Marxism and Problems of Linguistics - From Marx to Mao

CONCERNING MARXISM IN LINGUISTICSA group of younger comrades have asked me to give myopinion in the press on problems relating to linguistics, particularlyin reference to Marxism in linguistics. I am not alinguistic expert and, of course, cannot fully satisfy the requestof the comrades. As to Marxism in linguistics, as in othersocial sciences, this is something directly in my field. I havetherefore consented to answer a number of questions put bythe comrades.QUESTION.the base?Is it true that language is a superstructure onANSWER. No, it is not true.The base is the economic structure of society at the givenstage of its development. The superstructure is the political,legal, religious, artistic, philosophical views of society and thepolitical, legal and other institutions corresponding to them.Every base has its own corresponding superstructure. Thebase of the feudal system has its superstructure, its political,legal and other views, and the corresponding institutions; thecapitalist base has its own superstructure, so has the socialist3