STRUCTURALISM THEORY
Structuralism is a way of understanding language and how it works, developed by a guy named
Ferdinand de Saussure. He looked at language like a system of signs, kind of like a secret code
that we use to communicate. Here's an explanation of structuralism theory by Saussure in easy
words with headings:
1. Signs and Their Parts:
Saussure said that language is made up of signs, which are like little packages of meaning.
Each sign has two parts: a "signifier," which is the sound or image we use to represent
something, and a "signified," which is the idea or concept that the signifier stands for.
2. Relationships and Differences:
He pointed out that the meaning of a sign comes from how it's different from other signs. For
example, the word "dog" means a furry pet with four legs because we understand it's different
from words like "cat" or "tree."
3. Language as a System:
Saussure saw language as a big system where all the signs are connected. Changing one sign
can affect the whole system. It's like a puzzle where each piece matters for the whole picture.
4. No Absolute Meaning:
He also said that there's no absolute meaning in language. The meaning of a word depends on
how it relates to other words. For example, "hot" only makes sense because we have the word
"cold" to compare it to.
5. Speaking and Understanding:
Saussure looked at both speaking (producing language) and understanding (interpreting
language). He said they're like two sides of the same coin – you can't have one without the other.
6. Language vs. Speech:
Saussure made a difference between "language" (the whole system of signs) and "speech" (the
actual talking and writing). He focused more on language because it's what allows us to
communicate and understand each other.
STRUCTURALISM THEORY
7. Critique and Influence:
While Saussure's ideas were important, some people critiqued them. They said his focus on the
structure of language ignored things like history and culture. But his ideas still influenced lots of
other fields like literature, anthropology, and even psychology.
In simple words, Saussure's structuralism theory is like looking at language as a puzzle where
each piece (sign) connects to others. The meaning of each piece comes from how it's different
from the rest, and together, they create a whole system of communication.
Ferdinand de Saussure's structuralism theory introduces several important terms that
help us understand how language works as a system of signs. Here's an explanation of some
key terms from Saussure's structuralism theory:
1. Sign:
A sign is the basic unit of language. It consists of two parts: the "signifier" (the sound pattern
or visual symbol) and the "signified" (the concept or meaning associated with the signifier). For
example, the word "tree" is a sign where the sound "tree" (signifier) represents the idea of a tall
plant with branches and leaves (signified).
2. Signifier and Signified:
- **Signifier:** This is the physical, sensory part of the sign, like the sound of a word or the
letters on a page. It's the way we represent an idea.
- **Signified:** This is the mental, conceptual part of the sign, which is the meaning we
associate with the signifier. It's the idea or image that the signifier triggers in our minds.
3. Arbitrariness:
Saussure emphasized that the relationship between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary,
meaning there's no natural connection between the two. Different languages use different sounds
or symbols to represent the same concepts. For instance, the word "tree" in English and the word
"arbre" in French both refer to the same concept of a tree, but they have different sounds.
4. Synchrony and Diachrony:
STRUCTURALISM THEORY
- **Synchrony:** Saussure focused on the structure of language at a specific point in time,
known as synchrony. This means looking at how signs relate to each other within a particular
language system, ignoring historical changes.
- **Diachrony:** This refers to the historical changes and development of language over time.
Saussure's structuralism theory mainly concentrated on synchrony, but he acknowledged that
diachronic changes can influence the synchronic structure.
5. Langue and Parole:
- **Langue:** Langue refers to the overall system of a language, including its grammar, rules,
and structure. It's the abstract, collective aspect of language that exists independently of
individual usage.
- **Parole:** Parole refers to the actual instances of language use, such as spoken or written
sentences. It's the concrete, individual expression of language that occurs in real communication.
6. Binary Oppositions:
Saussure believed that meaning arises from differences and contrasts. He introduced the idea of
binary oppositions, where concepts gain significance through their relation to their opposite. For
example, the concept of "light" gains meaning by being contrasted with "dark."
7. Value and Difference:
Saussure argued that the value of a linguistic sign comes from its difference from other signs
within the system. In other words, a sign's meaning is shaped by how it stands out or contrasts
with other signs.
8. Phonology and Morphology:
- **Phonology:** This is the study of the sound patterns and rules in a language, including
how sounds create meaningful distinctions.
- **Morphology:** Morphology is the study of the structure and formation of words, including
prefixes, suffixes, and roots.
In essence, Saussure's structuralism theory examines the building blocks of language (signs),
their relationships, and how they create meaning within a system (langue). He emphasized that
language is a structured system that relies on the connections and contrasts between signs rather
than their individual meanings.