Critical Theory concerns conflicting logics- a social concern versus a language one. In the pathways of developments in theory, there are two diverging points- one, the obsession with language, communication systems and, two the focus on social construction. On one hand, Critical Theory of society emerged to deal with those aspects of social reality which Marx and his followers downplayed and neglected. It takes a specialized sense, describing the work of the Frankfurt School. On the other hand, it is concerned with the dominance of language to explain all phenomena. The term ‘Critical Theory’ was coined in 1930s.
The concept of language and culture being linked has been discussed for a long period. However, in the twentieth century, Critical theory marks a linguistic turn; a whole new approach to language, literature and interpretation. During this period one witnessed the rise of an astonishing number of theories that used language as a basis for thinking about every kind of human experience. There were ‘new’ ways of looking at psychology, sexuality, philosophy, politics, technology— and, of course, literature. The major theories that spawned in critical theory ranged from formalism, structuralism, semiotics, psychoanalysis, and deconstruction, to the responses and critiques posed by race and gender theory, cultural studies, post colonialism, and new media. At the very crux of literary theory is language. Books are made of language; the question 20th century critical theory posed was “Are we made of language?” This turn to language gives new relevance to literature.
To discover the new relevance of literature being applied to every system, the aspect of symbolic communication, the dominance of language over thought was done through Hermeneutics- the theory of interpretation; a very important component of understanding critical theory as it turns towards the possibility for symbolic communication. Ferdinand De Saussure’s insights into language paved way to apply language to understanding cultures. One example is Levi Strauss who applied them to his analysis of cultures and study of language of myths. The pioneer of Deconstruction, Jacques Derrida explicitly states that our epoch “must finally determine as language the totality of its problematic horizon. This statement can be inferred as “language being instituted at the very heart of every philosophical problem or inquiry.” (Habib 567). Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf tried exploring the connections between language and thought. Research and studies done on this aspect indicate the increasing primacy of the role of language in philosophical inquiry.
Based on creating a social construct of theory, pitched against traditional theory, the Frankfurt School carried out several studies and evolved theories on the monopoly of capitalism, the industrial state, and the developing technology. They also concerned themselves with identifying the roles of mass culture and the decline of democracy and of the individual. This way, the trajectory of critical theory drew alike on Hegelian dialectics, Marxian theory, Nietzsche, Freud, Max Weber, and other trends of contemporary thought. The Frankfurt School later became best known for their critical theories of “the totally administered society,” or “one-dimensional society,” which analyzed the increasing power of capitalism over all aspects of social life and the development of new forms of social control. (Bronner and Kellner 2)
The term that first denoted differentiating from prevailing forms of orthodoxy, soon began to be used to encompass and define the general theory of contemporary society associated with Max Horkheimer, Herbert Marcuse, T W Adorno, Leo Lowenthan, Frederick Pollock and others. (Bronner and Kellner 1). However, the two theories aren’t in complete conflict. Recent developments, with the impact of the rhetorical approach, indicate reconciliation between the language construct and the social one. It takes into consideration the use of language, nature and response of the reader and the text’s relation to other discourses, and the social and political contexts. “It doesn’t view a text as an isolated act but as performance in a social context. Thus it is an integral element ranging from Marxist and feminist perspectives through hermeneutic to reception theories.” (Habib 98) Thus, in a way, Critical theory inaugurates twentieth century’s engagement and overriding obsession with Language. However, the social construct is taken in as a matter of symbolic communication and establishes itself as against traditional theory, acting as an instrument of social transformation.

Works cited
Habib, M A R. A History of Literary Criticism and Theory: From Plato the Present. USA.
Blackwell Publishing. 2005. Print. 98-567
Horkheimer, Max, et al. Critical Theory and Society. Eds. Bronner, Stephen Eric and Kellner,
Douglas MacKay. New York/ London: Routledge, 1989. Web