struc·tur·al·ism (str k ch r--l z m)n. 1. A method of analyzing phenomena, as in anthropology, linguistics, psychology, or literature, chiefly characterized by contrasting the elemental structures of the phenomena in a system of binary opposition. 2. A school that advocates and employs such a method. struc tur·al·ist adj. & n. |
structuralism [ˈstrʌktʃərəˌlɪzəm]
n
1. (Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) an approach to anthropology and other social sciences and to literature that interprets and analyses its material in terms of oppositions, contrasts, and hierarchical structures, esp as they might reflect universal mental characteristics or organizing principles Compare functionalism
2. (Linguistics) an approach to linguistics that analyses and describes the structure of language, as distinguished from its comparative and historical aspects
structuralist n & adj
structuralism
an emphasis in research and description upon the systematic relations of formal distinctions in a given language. Also called structural linguistics. — structuralist, n.
See also: Linguisticsfunctionalism.
See also: Architecture
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | structuralism - linguistics defined as the analysis of formal structures in a text or discourse linguistics - the scientific study of language |
| 2. | structuralism - an anthropological theory that there are unobservable social structures that generate observable social phenomena theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory" anthropology - the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings | |
| 3. | structuralism - a sociological theory based on the premise that society comes before individuals theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory" sociology - the study and classification of human societies |
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