A synchronic approach (from Ancient Greek: συν- "together" and χρόνος "time") considers a language at a moment in time without taking its history into account. Synchronic linguistics aims at describing a language at a specific point of time, often the present.
A diachronic (from δια- "through" and χρόνος "time") approach, as in historical linguistics, considers the development and evolution of a language through history.
abstract, systematic rules and conventions of a signifying system
independent of the individual user
involves the principles of language, without which no meaningful utterance, or parole, would be possible
Parole ("speech"):concrete instances of the use of langue
basic unit of speech: "utterance"
Question: what are conditons sine qua non of utterance of an utterance ?
directly perceptible
material
form
term
Signified:abstract
needs to be "activated" by the signifier
idea
concept