Saussurean Sign Theory in the Human Sciences Today

Abstract

As is well known, modern semiotic theory is based on two models of the sign-the Saussurean and the Peircean. While the latter has been shown to be much more tenable as a theory of semiosis, the Saussurean model cannot be totally ignored, not only because it was an initial attempt to define signs in a social-conventional way, but was also a basis upon which signification has been extended today in the human sciences. This paper looks at the latter aspect of Saussurean theory.