Melanie Roth - De Saussure

“It is impossible for sound alone, a material element, to belong to language. It is only a secondary thing, substance to be put to use” (De Saussure, 10). Think of the sounds that babies make before they learn how to utilize their words. The made up sounds that emerge from babies mouths, provide us with zero understanding, of what they are trying to express. This example coincides with De Saussure’s statement that sound alone, without a specified form of use, do not create language. De Saussure reiterates himself, claiming that “an idea is fixed in a sound and a sound becomes the sign of an idea” (6). After re-reading this statement, I began to think beyond the sounds that we use to create words, and ventured towards the simpler sounds that we hear day to day. These sounds that encompass our world, keep us in tune with what is going on in our surroundings. Even right now, as I sit at my desk and type, I can hear the sound of a siren not too far away. The familiar two notes, that repeat themselves, communicate to the passing world that there is an emergency close by. In-complex sounds, that are similar to this two-toned siren, represent a specific idea. The sound itself, is the sign that broadcasts and enlightens us about what is going on nearby. For the most part, these sounds are universally recognizable. Whether it is a scream symbolizing a cry for help, or a honk from a vehicle demanding your attention, they each share the same meaning throughout the world. I find this to be the most interesting part, because the words themselves vary drastically when described cross-culture. The linguistics that have been discussed in this reading are defined through the symbolization of specific sounds, bringing together these constructed meanings, that are so momentous to our world.