The Basic Dichotomies of Structural Linguistics and the Explanation of the Term "Emptiness" in Ronald Barthe's Empire of Signs

Abstract

Thinking about the basic dichotomies of Ferdinand de Saussue through the prism of semiotics, that is through the understanding of the realisation of a sign within a particular culture, we will see that these dichotomies can be used and applied in equal measure on many levels in which a specific culture embodies itself. The sign does not necessarily have to derive from a speech communication act. The creation of signs does not recognise the boundary of being restricted to only one segment of human activity. This freedom of creating and understanding signs in other human activities as well (for example, in architecture, music, painting and others) opens the possibility of comparing signs with those belonging to other cultures. Ronald Barthes in his book The Empire of Signs deals with the comparison of signs and their functioning in other cultures. However, in order to understand the specificity of the "Eastern" sign in its wholeness Barthes goes back to its origins. This origin, according to Barthes, is realised in "emptiness" which enables him, free of any experience, to freely think and explain the signs under observation. Free of this ballast Barthes is free to think and explain signs, that is, he is free to name/signify signs in such an ideal system.