Here's why:
* Structuralism: De Saussure emphasized the systematic relationships between linguistic elements, rather than their individual meanings. He viewed language as a self-contained system of signs, where each sign's meaning is determined by its relationship to other signs within the system. This focus on relationships and structures is the hallmark of structuralism.
* Mentalism: Mentalist theories of language focus on the cognitive processes involved in language production and comprehension. They emphasize the role of the mind in creating and interpreting language. While Saussure acknowledged the existence of a speaker's mind, he did not focus on it as a primary factor in language.
Key Points:
* Langue vs. Parole: Saussure distinguished between langue (the abstract system of language) and parole (the individual speech acts). His structuralist analysis focused on langue, the underlying system, rather than the individual's mental representations.
* Signifier and Signified: Saussure's concept of the sign, composed of a signifier (the sound image) and a signified (the concept), is central to his structuralist approach. The relationship between signifier and signified is arbitrary and established through the linguistic system.
Therefore, while De Saussure's work has been influential in linguistics and has paved the way for later mentalist approaches, he is primarily considered a structuralist linguist for his focus on the system of language rather than the individual mind.