Swiss linguist and expert in historical linguistics whose lectures laid the foundations for synchronic linguistics (1857-1913)

A Swiss linguist, he was one of the first to divide synchronic linguistics from diachronic linguistics and is known for his binary model of the linguistic sign. One of his main contributions to historical comparative linguistics was his discovery of the PIE laryngeals, which first gave evidence of the validity of the comparative method.

Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) was a Swiss linguist. He perceived linguistics as a branch of a general science of signs that he called semiology. Many of his ideas have since been included in what is now called semiotics.

Saussure is a lunar crater. It is located in the crater-riddled terrain in the southern hemisphere of the Moon's near side. Just to the north and nearly attached to the rim is the larger Orontius crater.