Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
structural linguistics
References
Britannica AI Icon

structural linguistics

Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

Structural linguistics, a 20th-century approach to language, views language as a self-contained, relational system. Pioneered by Ferdinand de Saussure, it emphasizes studying language synchronically (at a specific point in time) rather than solely diachronically (over time).12

Key concepts include:
* Langue vs. Parole: Langue refers to the underlying system of language, while parole is the actual speech of individuals.32
* Structure and Distribution: The value of linguistic elements is determined by their relationships and distribution within the language system.4

This approach influenced various linguistic schools and laid the groundwork for modern linguistic study.42

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
6 Britannica Sources
  1. Ferdinand de Saussure
  2. synchronic linguistics
  3. structuralism
  4. linguistics - Structural linguistics in Europe
  5. linguistics - Internal reconstruction
  6. linguistics - Interstratal relationships

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.