Meaning: Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist and semiotician, is known for his influential work in the field of semiotics, which is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation. The quote "Any psychology of sign systems will be part of social psychology - that is to say, will be exclusively social; it will involve the same psychology as is applicable in the case of languages" reflects Saussure's emphasis on the social and cultural aspects of signs and sign systems.

Saussure's statement can be understood in the context of his theory of semiotics, particularly his concept of the sign. In his seminal work "Course in General Linguistics," Saussure proposed the idea that a sign is composed of a signifier (the form of the sign, such as a word or an image) and a signified (the concept or meaning associated with the sign). According to Saussure, the relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary and is determined by social convention and cultural context.

When Saussure speaks of the "psychology of sign systems," he is referring to the mental processes involved in the creation, interpretation, and use of signs within a social and cultural framework. This includes the ways in which individuals perceive and understand signs, as well as how signs function within specific social contexts. In Saussure's view, the study of sign systems cannot be divorced from the broader field of social psychology, as signs are inherently tied to social interactions and cultural meanings.

Furthermore, Saussure's assertion that the psychology of sign systems will be "exclusively social" underscores the idea that the interpretation and use of signs are fundamentally shaped by social factors. This aligns with his broader theory of semiotics, which emphasizes the role of social and cultural structures in shaping language and meaning. Saussure's view challenges the notion that signs and symbols have inherent, universal meanings, suggesting instead that their meanings are contingent upon the social and cultural context in which they are used.

In connecting the psychology of sign systems to the psychology of languages, Saussure highlights the parallelism between the two domains. He argues that the same psychological principles and processes that underlie language use and interpretation are also at work in the realm of sign systems. This underscores the interconnectedness of language and signs as vehicles for communication and meaning-making within social groups.

Overall, Saussure's quote reflects his belief in the inseparability of signs from their social and cultural contexts, as well as the significance of social psychology in understanding the nature of signs and sign systems. His insights have had a profound impact on the fields of linguistics, semiotics, and psychology, shaping our understanding of how meaning is constructed and communicated within society.