De Saussure labeled language as a

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UGC NET Official Paper-I (Held On: 01 Mar, 2023 Shift 1)

Answer 1

Key Points

Ferdinand de Saussure was a Swiss linguist who is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern linguistics.
He is particularly known for his ideas about language structure and the nature of linguistic signs.
De Saussure viewed language as a system of signs that are composed of two parts: the signifier (the sound or written form of the word) and the signified (the concept or meaning associated with the word).
He argued that language is not just a collection of individual words, but a complex system of interrelated signs that are constantly evolving and changing.
De Saussure used the term "profusion of signs" to describe the vast number of words and concepts that make up any given language.
He believed that the meaning of a word is not fixed or absolute but is instead determined by its relationship to other words within the linguistic system.
In contrast to some earlier linguists who viewed language as a static and unchanging system, de Saussure emphasized the dynamic and constantly evolving nature of linguistic signs and their relationships.
His ideas had a profound influence on the development of modern linguistics and semiotics.

Hence, De Saussure labelled language as a Profusion of signs.