À Propos de la réflexion phonologique de F. de Saussure

Saussure’s reflections on phonology are still today largely unknown. This has several reasons. Until recently, little documentation had been available to prove Saussure’s interest in the subject. Prague phonologists had given a particular interpretation of his general linguistics; the 1916 text of his lectures had led to many different and even contradictory interpretations. Praguean phonology has found its just place within the phonetic sciences, and recent discoveries of hitherto unknown texts from Saussure’s hand now reveal that he indeed put himself many important questions concerning the sound structure of language. Elements of these deliberations should lead to a more adequate reading of the Cours. In fact, these newly found texts suggest that Saussure was after a much more rigorous phonological treatment of which he had already provided evidence in his Mémoire, and which he talked about to his students later on.