Difference between Langue and Parole

The distinction between “langue” and “parole” is a fundamental concept introduced by the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure. These terms are essential in understanding the structural and functional aspects of language. Let’s explore the key differences between “langue” and “parole”:

1. Definition:

1. • Langue:

1. • • Refers to the underlying system or structure of a language.
     • Represents the abstract, rule-governed knowledge shared by members of a linguistic community.
     • Focuses on the synchronic, or static, aspect of language at a specific point in time.

1. • Parole:

1. • • Refers to the actual, concrete instances of language use by individual speakers.
     • Represents the dynamic and individualized manifestations of the underlying language system.
     • Focuses on the diachronic, or dynamic, aspect of language over time.

1. Nature:

1. • Langue:

1. • • Langue is collective and shared by a community of speakers.
     • It is implicit knowledge that individuals acquire as members of a linguistic community.

1. • Parole:

1. • • Parole is individual and unique to each speaker.
     • It represents the specific use of language by an individual in a given context.

1. Stability:

1. • Langue:

1. • • Langue is relatively stable and resistant to short-term change.
     • Changes in langue typically occur gradually over longer periods.

1. • Parole:

1. • • Parole is dynamic and subject to variation and change.
     • Individual speakers may exhibit variations in their language use, and these variations contribute to the ongoing evolution of language.

1. Examples:

1. • Langue:

1. • • Consider the grammatical rules and structures that govern a language, such as word order, verb conjugations, and syntactic patterns. These rules are part of langue.
     • The systematic use of pronouns, verb tenses, and syntactic constructions in a language represents aspects of its langue.

1. • Parole:

1. • • An individual’s spoken or written utterances in a specific context constitute examples of parole.
     • If someone says, “I went to the store yesterday,” or writes a unique poem, each instance represents an act of parole.

1. Relationship:

1. • Langue and parole are interdependent and mutually influencing.
   • Langue provides the structure and rules that speakers draw upon to produce parole.
   • Changes in parole, over time and across speakers, can contribute to shifts or modifications in the underlying langue.

1. Application:

1. • The distinction between langue and parole has been influential in structural linguistics, semiotics, and sociolinguistics.
   • It provides a framework for understanding the systematic nature of language (langue) and the diverse, individual expressions of that system in communication (parole).

In summary, “langue” and “parole” are complementary concepts that capture the structural and dynamic aspects of language, respectively. Langue represents the shared, rule-governed system of a language, while parole represents the individualized instances of language use in specific communicative acts.