Question

What role does society play in Saussure’s concept of langue?

• A. Society has no influence on langue
• B. Society creates and maintains the rules of langue
• C. Society only influences parole, not langue
• D. Langue is purely a mental construct and is not influenced by society

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Society creates and maintains the rules of langue

Saussure explains that language, as a social system, is neither situated in speech nor the mind. It only properly exists between the two within the loop. It is located in – and is the product of – the collective mind of the linguistic group.