Hasard et Langue

Abstract

The article explores the relevance of chance in linguistic studies and theories. It interrogates whether chance is a useful category in understanding languages, tracing its historical roots in Western linguistic thought, particularly the dichotomy between arbitrariness and necessity. The chapter discusses Plato's *Cratylus*, where the nature of language—whether words are natural or conventional—is first posed, and how Ferdinand de Saussure later formulated the principle of arbitrariness, likening language to chess where the material of pieces is irrelevant to the game's rules. However, this arbitrariness has limits; if all pieces are replaced, the game ceases to function, indicating that language must also reflect some motivations aligned with reality. The text delineates three areas of investigation: diachrony (temporal perspective), synchrony (systemic perspective), and the role of the speaker, emphasizing that these perspectives reveal the tension between chance and necessity in language evolution. It highlights how linguistic theories have oscillated between viewing chance as an irrelevant factor and recognizing it as a determinant of linguistic change. Furthermore, the chapter critiques the neo-grammarians' perspective, which sought to eliminate chance, positing that linguistic changes are governed by laws and regularities. It contrasts this with modern views that acknowledge the iconicity and motivation behind language structures, suggesting that chance cannot be entirely dismissed in linguistic processes. The text concludes by suggesting that the interaction between chance and necessity reflects the dynamic nature of language as both a structured system and a medium of individual creativity, ultimately framing the speaker as a participant navigating this complexity.