Definitions for "Deep structure"
A term encountered somewhat more often in linguistics than in semiotics, and contrasted with surface structure. The deep structure is the underlying, largely hidden structure by which the surface structure of, say, a sentence or a narrative is generated. The linguist Noam Chomsky and his followers are the chief proponents of deep structure.
in transformational-generative grammar, the meaning to which a spoken or written sentence refers; the result of deep cognitive processing; deep meaning. Note: The meaning of a sentence may not be apparent from its surface structure until verified by sentence transformation. For example, while the surface structure of John is eager to please and John is easy to please is the same, the deep structure or meaning is different. Cp. surface structure.
the underlying meaning of a statement. 329