The centenary of the first publication of Saussure’s sign theory – odier (1905)
Summary
The 1905 book Essai d’analyse psychologique du méchanisme du langage dans la compréhension by Henri Odier (1873–1938) is noteworthy for containing the first published report of details of the sign theory of Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913). This article discusses those details and Odier’s interpretations of them, which stray considerably from what Saussure intended, to judge from his later lectures. Because it is known that Saussure owned a copy of Odier’s book and he appears to have read it carefully, an examination is made of significant references Odier makes to other work. Finally, the negative review of Odier’s book by Antoine Meillet (1866–1936) is considered.
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References
Aarsleff, Hans
Bergson, Henri
Binet, Alfred
Darmesteter, Arsène
Engler, Rudolf
Flournoy, Théodore
Godel, Robert
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Koerner, E. F. K.
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1905 Essai d’analyse psychologique du méchanisme du langage dans la compréhension. Inaugural-Dissertation der philosophischen Fakultät der Universität Bern zur Erlangung der Doktorwürde. Berne: Imprimerie Sheitlin Spring & Cie. [Also issued by the same publisher in the same year, without “Inaugural-Dissertation etc.”, as Berner Studien zur Philosophie und ihrer Geschichte, 41.]![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
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Saussure, Ferdinand de
Sechehaye, Ch[arles] Albert
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Van Wyck, William & H. C. A. Odier
Weck, R. de, Edmond Gilliard, Ami Chantre, Georges Golay, Marcel Eyris, Louis Dumur, Henri de Ziegler, Jean Violette, Jacques Chenevière, Jean Choux, Jean-Pierre Porret, F. Roger-Cornaz, G. de Reynold, Henri Odier & Robert de Traz