Structuralism by Ferdinand de Saussure ( diachronic, synchronic, Langue, parole, Origin)easy wording

Описание: Structuralism is a 20th-century intellectual movement and method of analysis that posits cultural phenomena (language, literature, myths, social behaviors) cannot be understood in isolation, but only as part of larger, underlying systems. It emphasizes that meaning is derived from the relationships, binary oppositions, and structural patterns within a system rather than the individual elements themselves. 

Key aspects of structuralism include:

Origin: Developed from Ferdinand de Saussure's structural linguistics (1920s), which distinguished between langue (the abstract system) and parole (individual speech acts).

Key Thinkers: Claude Lévi-Strauss (anthropology), Roland Barthes (literary criticism), and Ferdinand de Saussure (linguistics).

Core Tenets: It is anti-individualistic, focusing on "deep structures" that govern human behavior and culture, suggesting that universal laws underlie diverse practices.

Applications: It is used to analyze binary oppositions (e.g., hot/cold, nature/culture) in myths, fashion, and literature to understand the structural logic of society.

Influence: While dominant in the 1950s-60s, it laid the groundwork for post-structuralism and semiotics by establishing the study of sign systems. 

Structuralism vs. Other Fields

Linguistics: Focuses on the internal structure of language rather than its history.

Psychology: An early school of thought, distinct from the above, that sought to analyze the basic components of the mind through introspection.