COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL

Abstract

This study examines the major theoretical differences and points of convergence between structural and functional approaches to language. Utilizing a qualitative comparative methodology, the analysis draws on representative models such as Saussurean structuralism, American structural linguistics, Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), and contemporary functional-cognitive frameworks. The findings reveal that while structural approaches prioritize internal linguistic organization and systematization, functional approaches foreground communicative purpose, context, and language use. The paper concludes that modern linguistics increasingly integrates both perspectives, aligning form with function for a more holistic understanding.