LEONARD BLOOMFIELD AND HIS CONCEPT

Abstract

Leonard Bloomfield is widely recognized as one of the founding figures of modern linguistics, particularly for his role in establishing structural linguistics as a scientific discipline in the early 20th century. His emphasis on descriptive rigor, empirical observation, and formal analysis laid the groundwork for linguistic research for decades. This article explores Bloomfield’s linguistic philosophy, his key theoretical contributions—including behaviorist views on language acquisition, the emphasis on distributional analysis, and the rejection of mentalist explanations—and the enduring impact of his methodological approach. Through critical examination, the article highlights both the strengths and limitations of Bloomfield’s concept within the broader context of linguistic theory and language education.