How did Ferdinand de Saussure's linguistic theories influence postmodernism?

Ferdinand de Saussure’s linguistic theories were foundational to the development of postmodern thought, particularly through the transition from structuralism to poststructuralism.21

Saussure’s primary influence on this movement includes:

• Language as a System of Signs: Saussure defined language as a structured system where meaning is derived from the internal relationships and contrasts between signs, rather than from a direct connection to an external reality. He distinguished between the signifier (the sound or mark) and the signified (the concept), establishing that meaning is a product of social convention and difference.12
• The Play of Differences: Postmodern thinkers, most notably Jacques Derrida, expanded on Saussure’s view that words gain meaning through their contrast with other words. Derrida argued that because meaning relies on this "play of differences," it is never fully present or fixed; instead, it is endlessly "deferred" in an infinite chain of signifiers.3
• Critique of Truth: By framing language as a self-contained code rather than a transparent medium for "truth," Saussure’s work allowed postmodernists to challenge the idea that objective reality can be accessed directly through language.1

This shift toward viewing language as a constructed, unstable system became a cornerstone of postmodern skepticism regarding universal truths and stable meanings.31