Final answer:
The basis for the differentiation between paradigmatics and syntagmatics lies in structuralist theory and semiotics, particularly Ferdinand de Saussure's distinction between 'langue' and 'parole'. Paradigmatics deals with the association of words based on similarity and substitutability (semantics), while syntagmatics involves how words combine in sequences to form sentences (syntax).
Step-by-step explanation:
What was the basis for the differentiation between paradigmatics and syntagmatics? The differentiation between paradigmatics and syntagmatics is rooted in structuralism and semiotics. Paradigmatic relations are based on the concept that words can be substituted for one another in the same context, forming a set of signifiers among which mutual exclusivities and similarities can be analyzed. This is closely associated with semantics. On the other hand, syntagmatic relations have to do with the combination and sequence of words in a sentence and are linked with syntax; this examines how linguistic units are arranged in succession to create meaning.
The foundations of these ideas rest on Ferdinand de Saussure's linguistic theory, distinguishing between the abstract system of language (langue) and its practical usage in everyday communication (parole). The notion of signs having both a signifier and signified is essential to understanding this differentiation. Semiotics, a field that explores how meaning is made through symbols (linguistic and non-linguistic), leans on these distinctions that originated from Saussure's work.
To encapsulate, paradigmatic and syntagmatic differ in that one focuses on the vertical aspect of language (selection of alternatives) whereas the other is concerned with the horizontal aspect (combination and arrangement).