Ferdinand de Saussure - Nature of the Linguistic Sign: Saussure emphasizes the relational nature of linguistic meaning. What does this imply about how individual signs acquire their significance within a language system?
1
Individual signs possess inherent and universal meanings independent of the language system.
2
The meaning of a sign is not determined by a direct link to a referent but rather by its difference from other signs within the same language system, acquiring significance through its position within the network of oppositions and associations that constitute the language.
3
The meaning of a sign is solely determined by the individual speaker's intention.
4
The relational nature of meaning only applies to abstract concepts, not concrete objects.