The Saussurean Sign

The Saussurean sign is a core concept in linguistics, representing the connection between a word's form and its meaning. It consists of two parts: the "signifier," which is the sound or written representation of a word, and the "signified," which is the concept or idea the word refers to. For example, the word "tree" (signifier) is linked to the image of a tree (signified). This relationship is arbitrary and based on social conventions, not natural links, allowing languages to develop and change over time. The sign helps us understand how words and meanings are interconnected within language systems.