Volume 03 Issue 06-2023
122
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
06
P
AGES
:
122-125
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2022:
5.
445
)
(2023:
6.
555
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
ABSTRACT
This article is dedicated to the word and the concept it expresses. The word arises simultaneously with the concept,
it is it that creates the possibility of abstraction and generalization that characterizes the concept in comparison with
the representation. The word fixes in our minds a generalized idea of reality. The relation between the word and the
signified consists, therefore, in the fact that, by naming the facts of objective reality, the word also reflects them, but
not directly, but through the concept fixed in the meaning of the word.
KEYWORDS
Word, sign, signifier, signified, reflection theory, arbitrary, concept, reality.
INTRODUCTION
The theory of reflection suggests that language is
based on the reflection of objective reality and that
words are a form of existence representing concepts.
According to this view, all forms of knowledge,
including sensation, representation, concept, and
judgment, are different manifestations of our thinking
reflecting the phenomena of the real world.
Linguistics, as a field of study, encompasses various
theories and approaches to understand language and
its role in human communication. While the theory of
reflection has some resonance with certain linguistic
ideas, it's essential to note that linguistics incorporates
multiple theoretical frameworks and perspectives,
each offering its own insights and explanations.
Research Article
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORD AND SIGNIFIER
Submission Date:
June 10, 2023,
Accepted Date:
June 15, 2023,
Published Date:
June 20, 2023
Crossref doi:
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps/Volume03Issue06-19
Tursunova Nodirabegim Fayzullo Qizi
(Phd) Doctoral Student Of Andijan State Foreign Language Institute Andijan, Uzbekistan
Journal
Website:
https://theusajournals.
com/index.php/ajps
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
Volume 03 Issue 06-2023
123
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
06
P
AGES
:
122-125
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2022:
5.
445
)
(2023:
6.
555
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
It's worth mentioning that the field of linguistics is
dynamic and continuously evolving, with new theories
and ideas emerging over time. The theories and
approaches within linguistics often build upon or
challenge existing theories, leading to a better
understanding of language and its intricacies.
Words play a crucial role in the formation and
reflection of concepts. According to this viewpoint, the
word and the concept emerge simultaneously, with
the word enabling abstraction and generalization,
distinguishing it from mere representation.
In this framework, the word serves as a tool for fixing
a generalized idea of reality in our minds. It represents
an agreement or convention within a language
community to assign a specific sound or written form
to refer to a particular concept. By naming the
phenomena of objective reality, the word not only
identifies them but also reflects them indirectly
through the concept that is associated with the
meaning of the word.
This perspective suggests that words act as vehicles for
expressing and transmitting abstract ideas, allowing
individuals to communicate and share their
understanding of the world. By using words, we are
able to categorize, generalize, and convey complex
meanings and experiences.
It's worth noting that this viewpoint resonates with
some philosophical and linguistic theories, such as the
aforementioned Saussurean structuralism and the idea
of signs consisting of signifiers (words) and signifieds
(concepts).
However,
different
theories
and
approaches exist within linguistics, and perspectives
may vary on the precise nature of the relationship
between words, concepts, and their reflection of
reality.
Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist, indeed defined
language as a system of conventional signs [1]. He
believed that the primary focus of linguistics should be
the language itself, rather than its connection to the
external world. According to Saussure, there is no
inherent or necessary relationship between the
linguistic sign (i.e., the word) and the object it signifies,
thus separating language and thought from the reality
they represent.
Saussure supported his claim of the arbitrariness of
linguistic signs by pointing out that different languages
use different sound complexes to denote the same
concept. In other words, there is no universal or
essential connection between the sounds of a word
and its meaning. Additionally, he noted that similar or
identical sound complexes can have different
meanings across languages.
For instance, the English word "dog" and the Uzbek
word "kuchuk" both refer to the same animal, but they
have different sound patterns and belong to distinct
linguistic systems. Conversely, the English word "bank"
Volume 03 Issue 06-2023
124
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
06
P
AGES
:
122-125
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2022:
5.
445
)
(2023:
6.
555
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
can refer to a financial institution, while the same word
in a different context can denote the side of a river.
These examples highlight the arbitrariness and
variability of the relationship between linguistic signs
and the concepts they represent.
Saussure's perspective emphasized the structural
aspects of language, focusing on the internal
relationships and patterns within a language system.
He believed that understanding language required
analyzing its internal structure and the interrelations of
its elements, rather than seeking a direct
correspondence between words and external reality.
It is worth noting that Saussure's views on language
and the arbitrariness of signs have influenced the field
of linguistics significantly, particularly in the
structuralist
and
post-structuralist
traditions.
However, other linguistic theories and approaches
have also explored the complex relationships between
language, thought, and reality, offering alternative
perspectives on the nature of linguistic signs and their
connections to the world.
In fact, the difference in sound complexes denoting
the same concept in different languages does not
testify to the arbitrariness of the linguistic sign, as de
Saussure argued, but to the fact that in different
languages different signs of the signified can be taken
as the basis for the name. Russian table is connected
with the verb to lay, English table with Latin tabula
board; the Greek trapeza indicates something
quadrangular, and the German Tisch says that this
object served as a round stand for food (cf. Greek
diskos a throwing disc, English dish).[2, 33]
Opponents of Saussure's theory argue that this
variation in sound complexes across languages
indicates that the choice of signifiers is not entirely
arbitrary but can be influenced by certain factors. One
such factor is the historical and cultural context in
which a language develops. Languages evolve over
time, and the selection of signifiers can be influenced
by historical events, cultural practices, and the
linguistic traditions of a particular community. For
example, the names for animals or natural phenomena
might be influenced by local customs or beliefs.
Additionally, opponents of the arbitrariness of signs
argue that sound symbolism or iconicity plays a role in
the selection of signifiers. Sound symbolism refers to
the phenomenon where certain sounds are associated
with specific meanings or concepts across languages.
For instance, many languages have words for "small"
or "tiny" that contain high-pitched and front vowels
(e.g., "petit" in French, "piccolo" in Italian). This
suggests a non-arbitrary relationship between the
sound and the concept being represented.
These criticisms highlight the complexities involved in
the relationship between sound and meaning in
language. While Saussure's theory of arbitrariness has
Volume 03 Issue 06-2023
125
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
(ISSN
–
2771-2273)
VOLUME
03
ISSUE
06
P
AGES
:
122-125
SJIF
I
MPACT
FACTOR
(2022:
5.
445
)
(2023:
6.
555
)
OCLC
–
1121105677
Publisher:
Oscar Publishing Services
Servi
been influential in linguistics, it is important to
recognize that there are other factors at play, such as
historical, cultural, and sound symbolism, which can
influence the selection of signifiers in different
languages.
The philosophical perspective touches upon the
relationship between language, meaning, and reality. It
suggests that the word consists of two aspects: the
concept it expresses and the sound it embodies.
According to this view, the concept reflected by the
word can be seen as a reflection of reality, while the
sound side, though not reflecting reality, serves as a
means of denoting or indicating reality.
This perspective aligns with the idea that language
functions as a medium through which we
conceptualize and represent the world. The concept
expressed by a word is our mental representation or
understanding of a particular aspect of reality, and the
word serves as a means to communicate or refer to
that concept.
Furthermore, the suggestion that the sound side of the
word denotes reality implies that there is a connection
or association between the linguistic form and the
external
world.
While
Saussure's
theory
of
arbitrariness
argues
that
this
connection
is
fundamentally arbitrary and based on social
convention, this perspective proposes that the sound
side of the word carries some inherent or mediating
relationship with the reality it signifies.
It's important to note that various philosophical and
linguistic theories exist, and different perspectives can
offer alternative interpretations of the relationship
between language, meaning, and reality. These
discussions continue to stimulate scholarly debates
and contribute to the ongoing exploration of language
and its role in our understanding of the world.
REFERENCES
1.
FERDINAND DE SAUSSURE. Course in general
linguistics. Translated from the French by
WADE BASKIN. PHILOSOPHICAL LIBRARY New
York. 1959. 264 p.
2.
Арнольд И.В. Лексикология совремменного
английского языка. Наука. 2012.
-
368 с
3.
Смирницкий А.И. Лексикология английского
языка. Москва 1956.
- 268 c
