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Podcast episode 13: Interview with John Joseph on Saussure

History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences

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Revolutionizing Linguistic Thought

The modernism of Saussure's course profoundly challenged and replaced established linguistic doctrines, including those of the Neo-Grammarians, which had become outdated. Unlike the Neo-Grammarians, who prioritized phonetic physicality in their sound laws, Saussure introduced the concept of the language system as a system of values based on pure difference. This reorientation emphasized mental processing, positioning analogy at the core of linguistic understanding while relegating phonetics to a secondary role. Such a radical shift in focus explains the significant impact of Saussure's ideas on the field of linguistics.

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