Sosyal Bilimler Akademi Dergisi

Öz

This study analyses the methods of approaching language in the book “Course in General Linguistics” by Ferdinand de Sausurre, who is regarded as the pioneer of the theory of structuralism. This is an introductory study which is based on the works of linguistics researchers on its subject matter. The Swiss philologist Sausurre suggested that language must be studied in different perspectives, and changed the course of the linguistic studies carried out until his era. The book “Course in General Linguistics”, published by two of his students after his passing, paved the way for linguistics studies and became a source for latter researchers in the area of linguistics. Sausurre defines language as a system of indicators, and focuses on the opinion that language is a sequence, hence suggesting the idea that language must be studied according to certain patterns: the descriptive nature of language laid emphasis on diachronic and synchronic inspection, centered around the opinion that is “Language exists as both a product of a history, and a system that is formed for individuals living in a certain time period” through a study of pure sentiments, free of all prejudice, and progressed by separating essence and form, language and speech.