Double structure

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In linguistics and semiotics, the expression double structure (also: double structure ) denotes the property of a sign system to be composed of meaningful and meaningful units.

designation

A character system is divided into two parts if a message based on it is structured as follows:

1. The message consists of units of expression, each of which has a meaning. Such a unit is called significant ("meaningful"). This is the first outline .

2. Every significant unit is composed of units of expression that have no meaning but merely differentiate meaning. Such a unit is called distinctive ("meaning differentiating"). This is the second breakdown .

There are three significant units in the sentence Jan works : Jan (“Jan”), Arbeit- (“ dutifully working to earn a living ”) and -et (“3rd person singular present tense”). The significant unit Jan is composed of three distinct units: / j /, / a /, / n /.

Every natural human spoken language has a twofold structure. The smallest significant units are called morphs or morphemes ; the smallest distinctive units are called phones or phonemes .

The twofold structure guarantees the efficiency of human spoken language , i.e. i. the ability to say everything that can be thought and communicated. As far as is known, animal communication systems do not have a twofold structure and also no efficiency.

The twofold structure of human language is not to be confused with the two sides of the language sign , the Significans ( expression ) and Significatum (content or meaning ). In relation to this distinction, the twofold structure is a structure of the significant.

history

André Martinet introduced the term double articulation in 1949 and coined the French term double articulation for it . This is often translated into German with double articulation . Both components of this translation miss what is meant: firstly, it is not about articulation (pronunciation of speech sounds), and secondly, it is not a double structure, but a structure on two levels. In addition, “double articulation” is a synonym for double articulation .

literature

  • André Martinet: “La double articulation linguistique.” In: Travaux du Cercle Linguistique de Copenhague 5 (1949), pp. 30-37.

Web links

  • Christian Lehmann: Dual structure , introductory presentation, in: Ders .: Basic concepts of linguistics, University of Erfurt 2007.