Structuralist: meaning, definitions and examples

The term 'structuralism' was first coined in the early 20th century and emerged as a critical movement in various fields, including linguistics, anthropology, and later, literary analysis. It can be traced back to the works of linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, who is often regarded as the father of modern linguistics. Saussure's theories emphasized the importance of understanding language as a system of signs defined through relationships and differences rather than merely through their individual meanings. Structuralism gained traction in the mid-20th century, particularly through the work of scholars such as Claude Lévi-Strauss in anthropology, who applied structuralist approaches to culture and society. The movement further influenced literary critics like Roland Barthes and Gerard Genette, who explored narratives and texts through a structuralist lens, focusing on how meaning is constructed within a literary framework. Over time, structuralism began to face criticism and evolved into post-structuralism, which challenged the idea of stable meanings and absolute structures, leading to new perspectives in literary theory and cultural studies.

Positioned at #23,199, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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• 23196 extrapolate
• 23197 winded
• 23198 ergo
• 23199 structuralist
• 23200 boned
• 23201 crouch
• 23202 recapitulate
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