Enunciation In Language: The Notion Of Relation And Its Implications For Teaching

Abstract

This work aims at discussing the notion of relation based on the linguistic theories of Ferdinand de Saussure, Émile Benveniste, and Oswald Ducrot. Such notion, advanced by Saussure from the theoretical primitive stating that language (“langue”) is a system of signs, becomes productive in the foundation of other enunciative theories, such as Theory of Enunciation, of Émile Benveniste, whose concept of language encompasses enunciation, and the Theory of Argumentation Within Language, of Oswald Ducrot, which proposes that the argumentative value is given by similarity and difference in language (“langue”). Thus, it is noticed that both theories are grounded on the notion of relation, to which they attribute the concept of enunciation. This concept brings language into play, and therefore intersubjectivity, since the latter is inherent to language. The notion of relation allows the displacement of linguistic reflection towards teaching, so as to question the role of intersubjective communication between teacher and student and to reveal its implication and contributions to working with texts in the classroom.