What is a linguistic sign? 1. A linguistic sign informs us something other than itself. 2. A linguistic sign is not a link between a thing and a name. It is a link between a concept and a sound pattern. The sound pattern is not necessarily the sound but can also mean the psychological impression of the sound. For example, when we are silently reading, we don't actually utter the words but still have a mental impression of the sound of the words. The sound pattern and the concept are intimately linked with each other and the one triggers the other. For example, when you read the word “elephant”, you immediately think of the animal/concept elephant. Similarly, when you see an elephant, you immediately think of the linguistic sign ‘elephant’. A Linguistic sign has two parts- signified and signifier. The signified is the ‘concept’ while the ‘signifier’ is the signal or the sound pattern that denotes the signified or concept. Principles of Linguistic sign The linguistic sign is arbitrary According to Ferdinand de Saussure, the connection between the sign and the signifier has no internal connection. It is completely arbitrary or random. For example there is no internal relation between the concept of the fruit ‘apple’ and its signifier or the sound pattern “a-p-p-l-e”. This can be further proved by the fact that signifiers for a particular signified or concept vary with various languages. For example, in English, the signified fruit is called ‘apple’, in Spanish it is called 'manzana’, and in French it is called ‘pomme’. Thus there are varied signifiers for a single signified. This establishes that there is no stable, intrinsic relationship between a signifier and a signified of a linguistic sign. The Signifier of the sign is linear in character. To understand this principle, think of all the written words and signs in books, texts, emails, music sheets, posters, etc. You will clearly see that a linguistic signifier that depends on your sense of hearing is always linear. Auditory signifiers have only dimension- linearity of time. According to Saussure, auditory linguistic sign: Occupies a specific temporal space This space is measured in the singular dimension of a line

1. Nature of the Linguistic Sign
by literatureandcriticism.com
What is a Linguistic Sign?
Principle of Linguistic Sign

2. What is a Linguistic Sign?
A linguistic sign informs us something other than itself.
It is not a link between a thing and a name. It is a link between a concept and a
sound pattern. The sound pattern is not necessarily the sound but can also
mean the psychological impression of the sound. For example, when we are
silently reading, we don't actually utter the words but still have a mental
impression of the sound of the words. The sound pattern and the concept are
intimately linked with each other and the one triggers the other. For example,
when you read the word “elephant”, you immediately think of the
animal/concept elephant. Similarly, when you see an elephant, you
immediately think of the linguistic sign ‘elephant’.
A Linguistic sign has two parts- signified and signifier. The signified is the
‘concept’ while the ‘signifier’ is the signal or the sound pattern that denotes
the signified or concept.

3. Principles of Linguistic sign
The Linguistic Sign is arbitrary
1.
2. The Signifier of the auditory
sign is linear in character.

4. The Linguistic Sign is Arbitrary
According to Ferdinand de Saussure, the connection
between the sign and the signifier has no internal
connection. It is completely arbitrary or random. For
example there is no internal relation between the
concept of the fruit ‘apple’ and its signifier or the sound
pattern “a-p-p-l-e”. This can be further proved by the
fact that signifiers for a particular signified or concept
vary with various languages. For example, in English,
the signified fruit is called ‘apple’, in Spanish it is called
'manzana’, and in French it is called ‘pomme’. Thus
there are varied signifiers for a single signified. This
establishes that there is no stable, intrinsic relationship
between a signifier and a signified of a linguistic sign.

5. Occupies a specific temporal space
This space is measured in the singular dimension of a line
To understand this principle, think of all the written words and signs in books, texts,
emails, music sheets, posters, etc. You will clearly see that a linguistic signifier that
depends on your sense of hearing is always linear. Auditory signifiers have only
dimension- linearity of time. According to Saussure, auditory linguistic sign:
The Signifier of the sign is linear in character.

6. by literatureandcriticism.com