Structural Linguistics

Structural Linguistics by Zellig S. Harris is a foundational work in descriptive linguistics that presents a set of structural methods for analyzing language scientifically. The book focuses on the logic of distributional relations as the core method of structural linguistics, providing detailed techniques for linguistic research and teaching without relying heavily on formal logic terminology. It covers phonology, segmentation, and the relations among phonologic elements, aiming to give readers a comprehensive picture of linguistic operations and elements. Harris’s approach builds on the work of Edward Sapir and Leonard Bloomfield, emphasizing the systematic analysis of language structure through distributional patterns. Although the text is challenging, it is considered a major contribution to linguistics, offering tools for both critical control and practical application of structural linguistic methods.