Question

In Elements of Semiology (1967), Barthes advances the concept of the metalanguage, a systematized way of talking about concepts like meaning and grammar beyond the constraints of a traditional (first-order) language; in a metalanguage, symbols replace words and phrases. Insofar as one metalanguage is required for one explanation of the first-order language, another may be required, so metalanguages may actually replace first-order languages. Barthes exposes how this structuralist system is regressive; orders of language rely upon a metalanguage by which it is explained, and therefore deconstruction itself is in danger of becoming a metalanguage, thus exposing all languages and discourse to scrutiny. Barthes' other works contributed deconstructive theories about texts.

The idea of symbolic logic existed already in 18th century (1700s), so what is new in Barthes ideas?

Answer 1

Roland Barthes' innovative contributions lie in the application of symbolic logic to semiotics, creating the concept of an ever-evolving metalanguage and emphasizing the deconstruction of structures in language. His ideas fundamentally challenge structuralist belief in stable meanings, acknowledging the dynamic and context-dependent nature of signification in text and language.

Step-by-step explanation:

Roland Barthes' ideas, presented in his work Elements of Semiology, build upon the concepts of symbolic logic from the 18th century by advancing them into the realm of semiotics and structuralism. While the idea of a metalanguage was not new, Barthes' contribution was significant in its implication for linguistic and critical theory. The uniqueness lay in how Barthes applied these notions to the field of semiotics, stressing the possibility of continuous layers of language explaining one another, potentially infinitely.

This reflects a form of deconstruction where the validity of any structuralist analysis is called into question because the structures themselves are subject to scrutiny in a perpetual process of reinterpretation. Barthes' involvement in ushering in the post-structuralist era was characterized by three key themes: the fluidity of self, the multiplicity of interpretation, and the contextual nature of meaning. In contrast to previous theories that treated language as a simple reflection of reality, Barthes' post-structuralist perspective recognizes language, signs, and texts as dynamic entities that create meaning within a cultural system through their relationships to other signs.