Every linguistic sign is located on two axes: the axis of simultaneity and that of succession.

In poetic language, in which the sign as such takes on an autonomous value, this sound symbolism becomes an actual factor and creates a sort of accompaniment to the signified.

The function of poetry is to point out that the sign is not identical to the referent.

Bilingualism is for me the fundamental problem of linguistics.

It is once again the vexing problem of identity within variety; without a solution to this disturbing problem there can be no system, no classification.

When I speak it is in order to be heard.

A new era in the physiological investigation of linguistic sounds was opened up by X-ray photography.