Philosophical insights into linguistic concepts Efficiency and performance Between structural and transformational generative approaches

Abstract

Language is the core of society and culture, reflecting the human experience and means of communication. Philosophers and linguists have studied language, establishing theories that highlight aspects such as linguistic competence and performance. Ferdinand de Saussure and Noam Chomsky are credited with developing structuralist and generative approaches, which offer different philosophical perspectives on the nature of language.

This study aims to understand these approaches and compare their concepts, focusing on fundamental differences and their impact on linguistics and philosophy. Linguistics is a vital intersection between philosophical ideas about language and the ways humans perceive reality. Structuralism explores language as a semantic system for revealing deep structures, while the generative approach sees it as an innate ability based on grammatical rules.

Both approaches contribute to our understanding of language, and overlap with ideas of knowledge and cognition, reassessing our understanding of language acquisition and building meaning. This connection between language and thought invites reflection on the dimensions of human existence.