"Of course, we have known for a long time that a word, like any verbal sign, is a unity of two components"

This quote by Roman Jakobson is describing the concept that words are composed of 2 unique components. The first component is the noise of the word, which is known as the phoneme. The second part is the significance of the word, which is referred to as the semantic component. Together, these 2 parts form a single system, which is the word.

Jakobson is recommending that the 2 parts of a word are inseparable and that they should be taken together in order to comprehend the significance of the word. He is likewise recommending that the 2 elements are similarly essential in comprehending the meaning of a word. Without the phoneme, the meaning of the word would be lost, and without the semantic element, the noise of the word would be worthless.

Jakobson's quote is an essential reminder that words are more than just sounds or signs. They are complicated systems that are made up of 2 distinct elements. By comprehending the 2 components of a word, we can better understand the significance of the word and how it is utilized in language.