Structuralism

During the twentieth century, much of linguistic research shifted in focus from diachronic to synchronic description. The challenge of expanding the database of languages well beyond Indo-European brought about the need to describe languages on their own terms instead of importing alien preconceptions and expectations. Alongside the growth in language resources, there was also a need among practitioners to establish a coherent and reliable set of analytical concepts and methods for synchronic research. This chapter surveys these developments and highlights the enduring relevance of the work.