Central Concepts of Saussure: Synchrony vs. Diachrony

Thus, Saussure shows that the meaning or signification of signs is established by their relation to each other. The relation of signs to each other forms the structure of language. Synchronic reality is found in the structure of language at a given point in time. Diachronic reality is found in changes of language over a period of time.

Saussure views language as having an inner duality, which is manifested by the interaction of the synchronic and diachronic, the syntagmatic and associative, the signifier and signified.

Synchrony vs. Diachrony

One can approach all different aspects of language, such as grammar, semantics, syntax, phonology etc., from two different points of view: - Diachronic linguistics (Diachrone Linguistik) studies language in its development across time (this is what the term diachronic means) (Moessner 2001), whilst, - synchronic linguistics (Synchrone Linguistik) tries to understand the functioning of language at a single point of time, without reference to earlier or later stages. As it is necessary to know how a system works at any given time before one can hope to understand changes, the analysis of language at a single point in time, i.e. synchronic linguistics, now usually precedes the study in terms of diachronic linguistics." (Paul Georg Meyer et al., Synchronic English Linguistics: An Introduction, 3rd ed. Gunter Nar Verlag, 2005)

Synchrony vs. Diachrony

"A synchronic study of language is a comparison of languages or dialects--various spoken differences of the same language--used within some defined spatial region and during the same period of time. Determining the regions of the United States in which people currently say 'pop' rather than 'soda' and 'idea' rather than 'idear' are examples of the types of inquiries pertinent to a synchronic study." (Colleen Elaine Donnelly, Linguistics for Writers. State Univiversity of New York Press, 1994)

Synchrony vs. Diachrony