Topic: Structuralism

Submitted to: Dr. Nazir Malik

Submitted by: Hummara Aakfah Riyadh

M.phil Applied Linguistics.

The University of Lahore

 Structuralism
Introduction:

A method of interpretation and analysis of aspects of human cognition, behavior, culture and
experiences which focuses on relationship of contrast between elements in a conceptual system.

Structure is more important than function.

A structure is any conceptual system based on three properties.

 Wholeness
 Transformation
 Self regulation

Saussure is a key figure in the development of modern approaches to language study.

Most important feature is theory of sign.

 Literature may be understood asa parts of a system of sign

Things that give meaning-word/image

Signifier
Anything that conveys meaning 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛 = Signified

What is evoked in the mind-mental concept

 Saussure study language as a synchronic system rather than a diachronic phenomenon.


Synchronic is concerned with system (descriptive).

Diachronic is concerned with single units (historical).
 Saussure coined the term langue and parole.
 Langue: (French meaning language) describes the social, impersonal phenomenon of language
as a system of signs.
 Parole: (Meaning speech) describes the individual, personal phenomenon of the language of
speech acts.
 Synchronic vs. Diachronic
Synchronic: languages are studied at a theoretic point in time. One described a state of language
disregarding whatever changes might be taking place.

Diachronic: Languages are studied from point of view of their historical development e.g. the changes
which have taken place between old and modern English could be described in phonological, grammatical
and semantic terms.

 Historical linguistics
 Study of the process of language change.
 Comparison of a language at two or more points in time.

Langue vs. Parole

Langue is social Parole is individual

 A set of conversation and rules  Individual performance of

- Shared by all the speakers of a language.
language - In speech or writing

Concept (or our thought) (reference)

Sound-form (symbol) word-object (referent)

What is meaning?

Meaning as referential:

 Meaning as naming (a thing in real life)-the thing.

 Meaning as sensing (a thing in “real”)-the concept.

Word (dragon) sense (Idea of dragon)

(Imputed) Thing in real life

 Type of signs
Indexical:
A mode defined by the relationship of necessity (cause and effect). The relationship is not purely
arbitrary.
Iconic:
A mode defined by relationship of resemblance.
Symbolic:
A mode defined by relationship of arbitrariness, convention and learning. The relationship is a
arbitrary purely conventional.

Personal

References Demonstrative

Comparative

The Referential Theory

The theory of meaning which relates the meaning of the word to the think it refers to is known as the
referential theory.
Concept something abstracts which has no existence in the material world and can only be present in our
mind.

Concept
(Mental representation of the referent)

Experience perception

Symbol Referent
(Specialization of the sign) Convention (Real word object)

Perception:
A process by which individual organize and interpret their sensory impression in order to give
meaning to their environment. People’s behavior is based on their perception of what reality is, not on
reality itself. Process of perception is
 Selection
 Organization
 Interpretation
 Connotation and Denotation
 Denotation:
The dictionary definition, the literal meaning of the word.
 Connotation:
The positive or negative emotions associated with the word, how the word makes
you feel.