Where does the concept of immanence fit in Saussure’s linguistic and semiological reflection?

Abstract

Saussure rarely —or perhaps never— uses the term immanence.
Despite this, his reflection clearly falls within an immanentist
approach, but in a particular way. In considering the place
and function of immanence in Saussurean reflection, we have
found it useful to use a comparative approach. After a brief
review of a decidedly non-immanentist theory of language
(that of Spinoza), we address Hjelmslev’s theory, which explicitly
upholds immanentism. It is in constant reference to said
theory that we contemplate Sassure’s. Similarities between
the two soon arise, as do differences, the latter primarily with
regard to the matter of the diachronic evolution of languages.
A r evealing i ndication of t he d ivergence b etween S aussure
and Hjelmslev is that, unlike the former, the latter does not
take the opposition between synchrony and diachrony into
consideration.