Abstract

After classifying the sociology of language in three paradigms and showing the shortcomings of the terra «linguistic attitude», a comparison is made between linguistic substitution processes and butterfly catastrophes. The similarities found are useful because 1) they provide us [...]

Abstract

This article outlines the basic principles for a general sociology of language with a systematic purpose, and questions several aspects of the dominant “common sense”. The work of the German sociologist Niklas Luhmann (1927–1998) is used as a starter point. The authors explain [...]