O degeneracji znaków językowych

Abstract

The point of departure for the present paper is C. S. Peirce’s concept of the degenerate sign, which has been used, in a modified form, to describe the degeneration of linguistic signs. Three kinds of degeneration of linguistic signs have been distinguished. The first one is the degeneration of the word — interprétant relation, where, as the process of decreasing semioticity of the linguistic sign advances, the full triadic sign relation is gradually reduced to an undifferentiated quality. This kind of degeneration, best illustrated by the cliché, is ascribed to the change of attitudes caused by the development of industrial civilisation and especially by the advent of the mass media. The second one is the degeneration of the word — object relation, where ideal relations within the sign are apprehended as changing into natural ones, the result of which process is the appearance of indexical and iconic relations within the sign. This process gives rise to such phenomena as péjoration and amelioration as well as the linguistic taboo and euphemisms. This kind of degeneration is motivated by religious beliefs, value systems and customs prevailing in a given speech community. The third one is the degeneration of the object — interprétant relation, where relations within the sign are determined by external conventions. In authoritarian social conditions this situation leads to all- -round degeneration of lingustic signs, to authoritarian ritualisation of discourse and ultimately to the closing of language. All three kinds of degeneration have been interpretated as reification of linguistic signs, which means that they are apprehended as external to the human mind and are perceived not as products of semios-is but as natural objects. Reification of linguistic signs results in the separation of 'man from his most important product, Mis linguistic acts, and in each of its forms it is at the source of all other forms of alienation.