Language and Systems Theory: Critical Remarks on the Luhmannian Conception

This paper assesses Luhmann's conception of language as structural coupling. Luhmann treated language as a medium, but also tried to incorporate the Saussurean concept of sign. The paper will deal with three conflictive points. The first one is the erasure of all psychic reference that Luhmann performs. The second issue is Luhmann's refusal to consider language as a system. The third point poses the question about the ontological bases of language, in comparison to those of the autopoietic systems.