Final answer:
Structuralism, initiated by Ferdinand de Saussure, is centered on analyzing the structure of language, specifically focusing on how words and signs function within a linguistic system to convey meaning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Structuralism, as developed by Ferdinand de Saussure, primarily focuses on analyzing the structure of language. This approach examines how language functions within its own system, considering the ways in which words and signs are related and differ from one another. Saussure's concept distinguishes between the 'langue' (the system of language) and the 'parole' (speech or the use of language), emphasizing the rules and conventions that enable communication within a culture.
The structural method proposed by Saussure explores linguistic signs and the relationship between the signifier (sound pattern) and the signified (concept), considered fundamental in understanding language as a social product. Structuralism has had a profound influence on various fields, including anthropology, literary criticism, and philosophy, by providing a framework for interrogating how elements within a system interact to produce meaning.