* Phonemes: These are the smallest units of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language. Think of the difference between "cat" and "bat" – the change in the initial sound creates a distinct word. Structural linguistics studies how phonemes are arranged, their relationships, and how they contribute to the overall sound system of a language.
* Morphemes: These are the smallest units of meaning in a language. They can be single words ("cat," "run") or parts of words ("-ing," "un-"). Structural linguistics examines how morphemes are combined to form words, phrases, and sentences, exploring the rules and patterns of word formation.
In summary, structural linguistics focuses on the internal structure of language by analyzing its fundamental building blocks like phonemes and morphemes. This approach aims to understand how these units interact and contribute to the overall organization and meaning of a language.