SAUSSURE AND THE SYLLABLE

Abstract

This article highlights the notion of syllable formulated by Saussure, systematically presented in the Principles of Phonology, chapter Appendix from the Course in General Linguistics. Although not often mentioned by those who are dedicated to study the Genevan master’s work, the theory about syllable emphasizes the originality of Saussure’s reflection on phonology. A syllable is designed as a general principle, with abstract nature, taken to syntagmatic description of phonic units of the languages. The analysis benchmark of a syllable is sonority and its consequences: degrees of opening and closing, mechanisms of implosion / explosion and the functional pair sounding / consonant. With this, we want to show that syllable in Saussure is a theoretical category of functional nature, which goes beyond the field of phonology to inspire semiolinguistic thoughts by many of Saussure followers.