1. Focus on Observable Behavior: Bloomfield rejected the study of mental processes and meaning in language. Instead, he emphasized the analysis of observable behavior, particularly the relationship between the stimulus (a situation or utterance) and the response (an utterance or action). This focus on observable behavior became a defining characteristic of American structuralism.
2. Formal Description of Language: Bloomfield believed that language should be described in a formal and objective way, using a system of symbols and rules. He introduced the concept of the "phoneme," the smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning, and developed a system for transcribing and analyzing phonemic structures.
3. The Importance of Structure: Bloomfield's work emphasized the importance of analyzing language in terms of its internal structure. He focused on identifying the constituent elements of language (phonemes, morphemes, words, phrases, sentences) and their relationships to one another. This approach led to the development of techniques for analyzing the structure of language, such as the "immediate constituent analysis" method.
4. Linguistic Determinism: While Bloomfield himself was not a strong proponent of the idea, his work inadvertently fueled the debate about linguistic determinism. This is the idea that language shapes thought and perception, and that speakers of different languages experience the world differently. While Bloomfield focused on language as a system of behavior, his emphasis on the influence of language on thought led to the later development of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
5. Influence on American Linguistics: Bloomfield's ideas had a profound impact on the development of American linguistics. His book, "Language" (1933), became a foundational text for the field, and his approach dominated American linguistics for decades.
However, Bloomfield's work also faced criticism:
* Overly Formalistic: His emphasis on observable behavior and formal analysis led to a neglect of the importance of meaning and context in language.
* Lack of Focus on Semantics: Bloomfield’s focus on sound and structure led to a neglect of the study of meaning (semantics).
* Limited Scope: His approach was criticized for being overly focused on the analysis of individual languages, neglecting the importance of comparative and historical linguistics.
Despite these criticisms, Leonard Bloomfield’s work remains a significant contribution to the history of linguistics. His ideas laid the groundwork for much of the work that followed, and his focus on objective analysis and the formal description of language continues to be influential even today.