Why it is hard to know what came first, speech or language, it is not hard to understand Saussure’s concept of language and speech.  Saussure states:
Language is a well-defined object in the heterogeneous mass of speech
facts.  It can be localized in the limited segment of the speaking-circuit
where an auditory image becomes associated with a concept.  (961)
In other words, language is a distinct element in the big diverse pool of speech.  It is when a verbal noise becomes associated with a concept. This concept as Saussure likes to call it is the “sound-image.”  Saussure believes that language can be studied separately from speech because it is tangible.  Saussure says, “The very possibility of putting the things that relate to language into graphic form allows dictionaries and grammars to represent it accurately, for language is a storehouse of sound-images, and writing is the tangible form of those images” (961).  Language is the storehouse of sound-images, it is what allows one to hear cup and envision cup.  Writing is the tangible form of those sound-images.  Language is more important than speech; it is not important what is being said, what is important is what sound-image one envisions after hearing a verbal sign.  Therefore, although speech does have a purpose, for Saussure it is secondary to language.

This of courses led us to the Helen Keller dog.  The Helen Keller dog is fused from two different ideas.  Helen Keller came first.  If language is a system of “sound-images” then what would Saussure say about sign language?  Now on to Fido.  You can tell a dog to sit. When the dog hears sit, does the dog mentally think about sitting, or does the dog associate sitting with getting a treat?  These are odd concepts to consider on a Saturday night.

The significance of thinking about language and speech and which came first can best be viewed in the oral tradition of Native American stories.  The stories of Native Americans are passed down by oral tradition.  Every word is important.  The stories have been written down, but the word on the page doesn’t truly convey what the meaning of the word.  As one group member stated: How could one accurately write down and describe the Native American concept of heaven?  Unlike Saussure, speech is important to Native Americans because accurately describing the meaning of words, preserves the integrity of the story.