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Langue and Parole

Langue and parole are key concepts in linguistics introduced by Ferdinand de Saussure, where langue refers to the abstract social system of language and its rules, while parole pertains to the actual use of language in specific instances. Langue is a collective phenomenon shared by a community, whereas parole is individual and influenced by personal style and context. The main differences lie in their abstract versus concrete nature, social versus individual focus, and stability versus variability.

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879 views1 page

Langue and Parole

Langue and parole are key concepts in linguistics introduced by Ferdinand de Saussure, where langue refers to the abstract social system of language and its rules, while parole pertains to the actual use of language in specific instances. Langue is a collective phenomenon shared by a community, whereas parole is individual and influenced by personal style and context. The main differences lie in their abstract versus concrete nature, social versus individual focus, and stability versus variability.

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theycallmenomi625
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LANGUE AND PAROLE

Langue and parole are fundamental concepts in linguistics, introduced by the Swiss linguist
Ferdinand de Saussure. These two terms describe different levels of language, and
understanding them is key to understanding how language functions both as a system and as a
form of individual expression.
1. Langue:
Definition: Langue (French for "language") refers to the abstract, social system of language. It is
the set of rules, conventions, and structures shared by a community of speakers. Langue is the
underlying system that makes communication possible and is largely unconscious.
Focus: It involves the grammatical rules, syntax, vocabulary, and conventions of a language.
Langue exists in the collective mind of a linguistic community, and it is a social phenomenon. It
is not concerned with specific instances of communication but with the overall structure of a
language.
Example: The rules of English grammar—like subject-verb agreement, word order, and tense
usage—are part of the langue of English. Everyone who speaks English has some unconscious
knowledge of these rules, even if they don't explicitly know all the rules.

2. Parole:

Definition: Parole (French for "speech") refers to the actual use of language in specific instances
of communication. It is the individual, real-world application of the system of langue. Parole
represents the performance of language, the concrete utterances made by speakers.
Focus: Parole is the specific speech acts, sentences, and expressions people use in daily life. It
can be influenced by context, personal style, and individual creativity, and it is subject to
variation. Parole is where we find the richness of individual language use, including dialects,
colloquialisms, slang, and errors.
Example: When you speak a sentence like, "I don't think that's going to work," you are
engaging in parole. It’s a unique instance of using the rules of English (langue) to express an
idea in a particular situation.
Key Differences Between Langue and Parole:
Abstract vs. Concrete:
Langue is abstract, referring to the system of language.
Parole is concrete, referring to the actual use of language in practice.
Social vs. Individual:
Langue is a social construct; it’s shared by a community of speakers and exists independently of
any individual.
Parole is individual; it’s about the personal and situational use of language by a speaker.
Stability vs. Variation:
Langue is relatively stable and governed by rules and norms that don’t change quickly.
Parole can be highly variable, as each speaker brings their own personal style, choices, and
even mistakes to their speech.

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