Phonocentrism
Phonocentrism is a term coined in particular by the philosopher Jacques Derrida , by which he pejoratively denotes the construction and assertion of the superiority of spoken language over non-spoken languages, which it defines in the Western tradition of thought.
The background to the conceptual development of phonocentrism is Derrida's discussion with the linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, who distinguished between three linguistically relevant systems: langage , langue and parole . While the former denotes all linguistic subsystems in their disordered and everyday totality of each system based on different signs ( semiology ), he understands by langue rather the individual, now linguistically well-ordered sign systems of the spoken languages as a universal system of all langage . The parole as a concrete practice of speaking, on the other hand, updates the codified universal system of the langue and - more indirectly - that of the langage. In doing so, Saussure grants the connecting line langue-parole a priority status, since in his opinion, despite the purely particular character of the spoken languages, among the sign systems only the spoken languages are suitable for the foundation of linguistics:
"There is in our view only one way [...] must be one from the outset everything to the field of language as a system [langue] align and the reference framework for all manifestations of language par excellence [langage] make . In fact, only language, understood as a system, seems to allow an independent definition; but it provides the spirit with a sufficient fixed point. But what is language as a system [ langue ]? We think that it should not be equated with language in general [ langage ], with the whole process of language; rather, it forms only a certain, albeit essential, part of it. [...] Language as a system [ langue ], on the other hand, is a whole in itself and a principle of classification. As soon as we give it the first place under the conditions of language [ langage ], we bring a natural order into a complex that does not allow any other classification. "
As a result, Saussure sharply differentiates linguistics from semiology and linguistics from written science.
Derrida sharply criticizes this primary character of spoken language as the universal system of all sign systems as phonocentrism and shows in his standard work Grammatology why this privileged status of spoken language cannot be maintained.
In terms of the history of science, Saussure's distinctions between langage, langue and parole have caused a great deal of confusion, as on the one hand they were able to make fundamentally important contributions to numerous branches of science, but on the other hand they have remained so inadequate in their attempt at order that Saussure himself made his own with these Distinctions and demarcations struggled - a fact that even Saussure himself, too calmly, ponders to a certain extent:
“Notice that we have defined things here, not words. The distinctions made are therefore not jeopardized by the fact that certain ambiguous terms [...] do not have exact equivalents in other languages. In German language means both langue [in the sense of individual language] and langage [in the sense of language par excellence]; Speech corresponds halfway to parole [in the sense of "individual speaking"], but adds the special meaning discours [speech in the sense of address]. The Latin sermo embraces langage and parole while lingua the langue etc. designated No word corresponds exactly to the above specified terms. Therefore any definition based on a word is in vain; it is a bad way to start from words to define things. "
From phonocentrism to phonologocentrism
With his preference for the spoken or auditory material over the non-spoken or non-auditory material, Saussure follows a very powerful and long tradition in the history of Western thought, which is based on the logos (Greek: word , speech , reason , essence ) is based. The logos (in the tradition as word of God) it takes over the function of an ultimate and final guarantors of any truth that as inner truth ( intentionality , see Plato's theory of ideas ) of humans only and foremost in his voice and the spoken language to express come, whereby the writing as the other of the voice has only a completely negligible auxiliary character and the voice merely depicts and doubles without distinction. The phoneme and the logos thus merge into a unity, identified by Derrida as phonologocentrism, which finds its perfection in the vocal sign with its two sides of material sound (e.g. Plato's image) and ideal representation (e.g. Plato's archetype) . Inner-worldly materialism and extra-worldly idealism therefore find a kind of pacified, eternal calm and purity with the other as well as with themselves, which Derrida disparagingly attacks as phonologocentrism. What is at stake, then, is nothing less than the occidental historical tradition of the truth production of the sciences, which uses the logos for its assurance, which Derrida seeks to fundamentally shake with his grammatology (Derrida) and to disempower it through the changed use of writing.
Individual evidence
- ^ Saussure: Grundfragen , Reclam, Stuttgart 2016, p. 9f., Extract available at: https://www.reclam.de/data/media/978-3-15-018807-1.pdf
- ↑ Jacques Derrida: Grammatology . Ed .: Suhrkamp. Frankfurt am Main 1974.
- ↑ Saussure: Grundfragen , Reclam, Stuttgart 2016, p. 17., extract available at: https://www.reclam.de/data/media/978-3-15-018807-1.pdf