AArbitrariness
BLinear nature of the sign
CSyntagmatic structure
DDiachronic analysis
Answer:
B. Linear nature of the sign
Read Explanation:
"Linear nature of the sign" refers to the concept in linguistics, primarily attributed to Ferdinand de Saussure, that a linguistic sign (a word or symbol) gains meaning by being arranged in a sequential order, like a line, where one sound or element follows another in time to create a meaningful whole; essentially, meaning is derived from the linear progression of the signifier (the sound or visual representation) rather than from simultaneous elements.
Key points about the linear nature of the sign:
Signifier is linear:
The "signifier," which is the sound pattern or visual representation of a word, unfolds in time, meaning one sound is uttered after another, creating a linear sequence.
Meaning through order:
The arrangement of signifiers in a specific order is crucial for understanding meaning.
Example:
In a sentence, each word is a signifier, and the sentence structure (linear order) determines the overall meaning.