Ferdinand de Saussure's 'Course in General Linguistics' was published in 1916, laying the foundation for structural linguistics. Saussure argued that meaning arises from the differences between signs within a linguistic system, revolutionizing the study of language. His ideas influenced various fields, including literary theory, anthropology, and semiotics, marking a significant shift in understanding language as a social construct.

Ferdinand de Saussure's 'Course in General Linguistics,' published in 1916, shifted literary focus to language as an autonomous system. This theoretical groundwork influenced movements like French Symbolism and Russian Formalism, shaping the evolution of modern poetics.