Introduction:

• Structuralism is a theoretical approach to analyzing human culture and society.

• It emerged in the mid-20th century and has had a significant impact on fields such as
linguistics, anthropology, and literary theory.
• This lecture will focus on structuralism in the domains of linguistics and literature.

I. Structuralism in Linguistics: A. Ferdinand de Saussure:

• Ferdinand de Saussure is considered the father of modern linguistics.

• He developed the concept of structural linguistics, which emphasizes the importance of
studying the underlying structure of language.
• According to Saussure, language is a system of signs, and the meaning of each sign is
determined by its relationship to other signs in the system.
• He also distinguished between the two components of a sign: the signifier (the sound or written
form of the sign) and the signified (the concept or idea the sign represents).

B. Noam Chomsky:

• Noam Chomsky is another prominent figure in structural linguistics.

• He developed the theory of generative grammar, which posits that the ability to produce and
understand language is innate to humans.
• Chomsky's theory emphasizes the importance of syntax (the rules that govern the structure of
sentences) in understanding language.

C. Structuralist Linguistics Today:

• While structural linguistics has been criticized for its emphasis on the form of language over its
content, it continues to be influential in linguistic research today.
• Many contemporary linguists draw on structuralist ideas in their work, such as the study of
phonology (the study of the sound system of a language) and syntax.

II. Structuralism in Literature: A. Roland Barthes:

• Roland Barthes was a French literary critic who applied structuralist ideas to the analysis of
literature.
• He developed the concept of the "death of the author," which posits that the author's intention
and biography should not be considered when interpreting a literary text.
• Barthes argued that meaning in literature is created by the reader's interpretation of the text, and
that the text itself is made up of a series of signs or codes.

B. Claude Levi-Strauss:

• Claude Levi-Strauss was an anthropologist who also applied structuralist ideas to the analysis
of literature.
 • He developed the concept of the binary opposition, which posits that meaning is created
through the relationship between opposing concepts, such as good and evil or nature and
culture.
• Levi-Strauss argued that myths and stories are structures that reflect the underlying structures
of society.

C. Structuralist Literary Criticism Today:

• While some aspects of structuralist literary criticism have been criticized, such as its tendency
to ignore historical and cultural contexts, it continues to be influential in literary studies.
• Many contemporary literary critics draw on structuralist ideas in their work, such as the study
of narrative structures and the analysis of symbolic codes in literature.

Conclusion:

• Structuralism has had a significant impact on both linguistics and literary studies.
• While it has been criticized for its emphasis on form over content, it continues to be influential
in research today.
• By studying the underlying structures of language and literature, structuralism has provided
new ways of understanding and interpreting human culture and society.