English Language Studies: Ferdinand de Saussure for Kids: Introducing Structural Linguistics the Easy Way

Have you ever wondered how language works? How does saying a word like "cat" make someone else picture a furry animal with whiskers and a tail? What makes language so powerful that we can tell stories, share ideas, or even crack jokes?

Well, believe it or not, this question stumped many smart adults for centuries—until a Swiss man named Ferdinand de Saussure came along and gave everyone a new way to look at language. Sounds boring? Nope! It’s like unlocking the secret code behind how we talk, write, and even think.

Let’s explore structural linguistics with the help of Saussure—don’t worry, we’ll keep it fun, simple, and maybe even a little silly!

Who Was Ferdinand de Saussure?

Ferdinand de Saussure (say it like: Fur-dee-nand duh Soh-sure) was born in Switzerland in 1857. He loved languages so much that he learned Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, and a bunch of others before he was even 20. Imagine being a teenager and already understanding ancient languages!

But what made him super famous was not just speaking many languages—it was the way he thought about language. He didn’t just want to speak or learn languages. He wanted to understand how language works in the brain. He asked questions like:

Why do words mean what they mean?
How do we understand each other using just sounds and symbols?
What makes one language different from another?

And then—BOOM!—he came up with a new idea that changed everything. This new idea became known as structural linguistics.

What is Structural Linguistics?

Let’s break it down like a puzzle (because that’s kind of what it is).

Structural linguistics is the study of language as a system made of parts that work together—like LEGO blocks. Every block (word, sound, or rule) connects to others to build sentences, stories, and even poetry!

Think of language like a giant cake. You can eat it and enjoy it (just like we enjoy talking), but structural linguistics is about looking at the ingredients and recipe to see how it’s made.

The Big Idea: Language Is a System of Signs

Saussure said that language is made of signs. Not road signs or stop signs—but language signs. These are made of two parts:

Signifier – the word or sound we use, like “tree.”
Signified – the idea or picture in our mind, like the green, leafy plant growing in your yard.

Together, the signifier and the signified make a sign. Simple, right?

Let’s try a few:

The word “dog” (signifier) + the image of a barking four-legged pet (signified) = sign
The word “sun” (signifier) + the hot, yellow ball in the sky (signified) = sign

But wait—it gets cooler!

Saussure said that there’s nothing natural about the word “dog” meaning a dog. We could have called that animal a "floof" or "zaga." It’s only because we all agree that “dog” means that animal. That’s what he called the arbitrariness of the sign.

In short: Words mean what they mean because people agree on it—not because the word itself sounds like what it means.

The Language Game: It’s All About Differences

Here’s where Saussure gets even more interesting—and weirdly fun.

He believed that words don’t have meaning by themselves. They only have meaning because they are different from other words.

Huh? Let’s try a game.

Imagine you have a room full of fruit: apples, bananas, and oranges.

You know what a banana is, not because of what it is, but because it’s not an apple and not an orange.
It’s different in shape, color, taste.

Language works the same way!

The word "bat" makes sense only because it's not "cat," "rat," or "mat." It’s different in sound and spelling. Saussure said: language is a system of differences, like a big game of "spot the difference."

Two Types of Language: Langue and Parole

Ready to sound super smart? Here’s a fancy French idea from Saussure.

He divided language into two parts:

Langue (pronounced: long) – the whole system of language we all share, like the rules, grammar, and vocabulary of English.
Parole – how each person actually uses language, like how you talk to your friend or tell a joke.

It’s like this:

Langue is the game board and rules.
Parole is how you actually play the game.

So, we all know how to play Monopoly (langue), but each person plays a little differently (parole). Maybe you buy all the properties. Maybe your sister always ends up in jail!

Why Should Kids Care About This?

Good question!

Understanding structural linguistics helps you:

Learn new languages faster by seeing how they work like puzzles.
Understand jokes and puns—they often play with how signs work!
Write better stories by realizing how words carry meaning.
Be a better communicator—knowing that what you say and what others hear might not always match helps avoid confusion.

It also shows that language isn’t magic—it’s a tool we build together.

Let’s Try Some Activities!

1. Make Your Own Language

Try this with a friend:

Make up 5 new words.
Decide what each word means.
Use them in a sentence.

Example:

“Zupa” = banana
“Bloop” = happy
Sentence: “I ate a zupa and felt bloop!”

Guess what? You just used Saussure’s idea of arbitrary signs!

2. Language Detective

Pick five words in English and five in another language (like Spanish, French, or Urdu). Compare how different the words are even though they mean the same thing.

English: cat | French: chat | Urdu: billi
What do you notice? They're all different signifiers, but the signified is the same—an adorable pet.

3. Sign Switcheroo

What if we changed the word “book” to mean “ice cream”? Try writing a short paragraph using the new meaning. It’ll sound silly, but it helps you see how signs can change!

Famous Quote From Saussure (Kid Style)

Saussure once said (in fancier words),
“In language, there are only differences, and nothing else.”

In kid-speak, that means:
“Words mean what they do because they’re NOT other words.”

Pretty wild, right?

Wrap-Up: Saussure Was a Language Superhero

Let’s face it: without Saussure, we might still be scratching our heads trying to figure out what makes language tick. He showed us that language is:

A system made of signs
Full of rules and structures
Fun to study like a puzzle or game
Always changing and shaped by people

So next time you speak, write, or even read a comic book, remember—you’re using one of the coolest tools humans ever created. And thanks to Saussure, we now know a little more about how it all works.

Want to Learn More?

Try reading a comic book in another language and see what signs you can understand.
Start a word journal where you note down cool new words and what they might mean.
Ask your teacher about how words come into a language—you’ll be surprised how many are borrowed from others!

Language is like a giant playground, and Saussure just gave you the map. So go out there and play—with words, signs, and meanings!

English Language Studies

Ferdinand de Saussure for Kids: Introducing Structural Linguistics the Easy Way