According to Ferdinand de Saussure, a linguistic sign is

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• According to Ferdinand de Saussure, a linguistic sign is a link between a concept (signified) and a sound pattern (signifier).
• Saussure's theory forms the basis of structural linguistics and has influenced various fields including semiotics, anthropology, and literary theory.
• He emphasized that the relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary, meaning there is no inherent connection between the two.
• This arbitrariness is a fundamental principle in understanding how language functions and evolves.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

Additional Information

• Ferdinand de Saussure: A Swiss linguist whose ideas laid the groundwork for many developments in the study of language in the 20th century.
• Noam Chomsky: An American linguist known for his theory of generative grammar, which revolutionized the field of linguistics.
• Roman Jakobson: A Russian linguist and literary theorist who contributed significantly to structuralism and semiotics.