It was a reaction to the traditional apporach to analyzing texts. So, structualism seeks to understand meaning by observing the deeper levels of thought expressed by language. The whole of a statement is explained by examining the relationships of its parts. The significant part of communication lies below the surface of the literature. So seek the analyze the meaning beyond what may be seen on the surface.
Synchronic analysis dominates over diachronic.
Paradigmatic - looks at the semantic field of a concept, not just the various meanings the term itself might have in different contexts but other terms tha relate to it. Paradigmatic relation is vertical or associative, noting other terms that could replace it, such as words that are synonymous. All rights reserved.