La semiótica al inicio del siglo XX: condiciones de un cambio en la metodología lingüística

The centenary of the publication of Saussure’s Cours de linguistique générale (1916) invited us to re-examine the importance of this work for the foundation of a linguistic theory which was integrated into semiotics. There is no doubt that the simplification of Saussure’s ideas and the exaggeration of his systemic concept of language, executed by Bally and Sechehaye, did contribute to the successful acceptance of this work. In this paper two other aspects will be examined: firstly, the concept of ‘series of texts’ will be introduced, secondly, a forgotten series and a new series will be analysed. Works of both series contributed to the introduction of semiotic concepts in the era which was dominated by historical linguistics. The analysis of these two series will focus on the concept of arbitrariness.