Double structure
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.