Meaning: Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist and semiotician, made significant contributions to the field of linguistics with his work on structuralism and semiotics. The quote, "Everyone, left to his own devices, forms an idea about what goes on in language which is very far from the truth," captures Saussure's belief that there are common misconceptions about language and its workings. In this quote, Saussure is highlighting the tendency for individuals to develop their own subjective understandings of language, which may not align with the scientific or structural realities of language.

Saussure's work laid the foundation for modern linguistics and semiotics by emphasizing the importance of understanding the structure and system of language. His influential ideas have had a lasting impact on the study of language and communication.

Saussure's quote underscores the notion that individuals often develop their own assumptions and beliefs about language without considering the complex and systematic nature of linguistic structures. This reflects Saussure's belief that language is a structured system with rules and conventions that govern its use, rather than a random or chaotic collection of words and meanings.

In Saussure's view, language is not simply a collection of individual words and their meanings, but rather a system of interconnected signs and symbols. He introduced the concept of the signifier and the signified, emphasizing the arbitrary nature of the relationship between words and their meanings. Saussure's structuralist approach to language analysis focused on the relationships and structures within language, rather than on individual words or meanings.

Furthermore, Saussure's quote suggests that individuals may have misconceptions about the nature of language due to their personal experiences and perceptions. This aligns with his emphasis on the social and cultural aspects of language, as he believed that language is shaped by social conventions and shared understandings within a community or culture.

Saussure's work has had a profound impact on the field of linguistics, inspiring subsequent generations of scholars to explore the structural, systematic, and social dimensions of language. His ideas have influenced various linguistic theories and approaches, including semiotics, structural linguistics, and sociolinguistics.

In summary, Ferdinand de Saussure's quote reflects his belief in the systematic and structured nature of language, and the tendency for individuals to develop their own subjective understandings of language that may not align with its scientific realities. His work continues to be influential in the field of linguistics, shaping our understanding of language as a complex and structured system of signs and symbols.