According to Saussure, a linguistic sign consists of a "signifier" (the sound-image or physical form) and a "signified" (the mental concept) which are inseparable from each other; meaning the sign is made up of both the physical manifestation of a word and the idea it represents in the mind.
Key points about Saussure's linguistic sign:
Signifier: The physical form of the sign, like the sound pattern of a word or the written letters.
Signified: The mental concept associated with the signifier.
Arbitrary relationship: The connection between a signifier and a signified is not natural or inherent, but rather established by social convention.
