Language System - Linguistics as an Empirical Science
Language System - Linguistics as an Empirical Science

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines two general approaches to language system. First, the traditional approach is based on the langue - parole dichotomy and assumes that real communication is centered around the system (langue) which exists “behind” all speech acts and that only the system makes communication possible. However, there is no direct method how to observe the system. Second, the empirical approach rejects the langue - parole dichotomy because of the impossibility of direct observation of language system (in the sense of langue). According to this approach the system is only a testable theoretical construct.

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