Factory School --> Backlight --> Diagrammatica
Concept:
 Language in Time
Designer:

Ferdinand deSaussure
Year:

1916
Source:

Cours de linguistique général
(Translated as Course in General Lingusitics)
Description:
 If we considered language in time, without the community of speakers--imagine an isolated individual living for several centuries--we probably would notice no change; time would not influence language. Conversely, if we considered the community of speakers without consiering time, we would not see the effect of the social forces that influence language. To represent the actual facts, we must then add to our first drawing a sign to indicate passage of time.