Roman Jakobson was a Russian-American linguist and literary theorist, born on October 11, 1896. He is best known for his contributions to structural linguistics and semiotics, which explore the relationship between language and meaning. Jakobson's work laid the foundation for modern linguistic theory and influenced various fields, including literary criticism and communication studies. Jakobson was a key figure in the Prague School of linguistics and later became associated with the New York School. He introduced concepts such as the functions of language, which categorize how language is used in different contexts. His ideas continue to shape contemporary discussions in linguistics and cultural studies.