L'émergence et l'évolution de la sémiologie chez Saussure (1881-1894)

This paper is part of a reconstruction of Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiology. The reconstruction is based on a terminological inquiry into different terms related to semiology (Fr. sémiologie). The occurrences of terms were extracted from different Saussurean texts written during the period between 1881 and 1911. The paper also contains two hypotheses about the source of Saussure’s semiology. However, for reasons of space, the detailed analysis of the values of the term “semiologyˮ and related terms is restricted to the period 1881-1894. Our analysis takes up and extends Chidichimo’s essay (2014) on the term “semiologyˮ; the article integrates and clarifies Chidichimo’s analysis of the term “semiologyˮ into a broader and more precise view. Our study shows that the emergence of semiology as a science of signs went through several stages in Ferdinand de Saussure’s thought before being established as a science.