“Linguistics is only a part of the general science of semiology; the laws discovered by semiology will be applicable to linguistics, and the latter will circumscribe a well-defined area within the mass of anthropological facts.” -Saussure

Saussure’s Course in General Linguistics chapter III. The Object of Linguistics describes the origin of language as NOT simply a way of naming an object or an action as most may assume (I must admit before entering Intro to Theory I also thought the same), but more so a verbal art form that can be transformed into a symbolic form of written words. Saussure goes on to describe the relationship between linguistics (the study of language and its structure) and Semiology/semiotics furthermore as two different studies that go hand in hand. As Semiology is considered the study of the use or interpretation of signs and/or symbols that one would be unable to transcribe if not for language and the use of literal concept along with it.

Saussure’s belief within the General Linguistics course that language is an especially interesting object to study rather than, say, the symbolic systems that govern cinema or fashion or pantomime or ballet stems from the concept that linguistic signs are tangible assets capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value through various roots originating from a reasonable system. As I previously mentioned linguistics as viewed as an art form, so is the use of symbolic systems that govern cinema or fashion or pantomime or ballet considered such. However, when it comes down to the topic of cinema or fashion or pantomime or ballet linguistics acts as a source for such branches of semiology. Differentiating from language itself as it is considered to be its own semiological system alone.