In that case, we understand it as a sequence of cross-sections rather than something that somehow organically changes through time.

这样，我们就是在学习一个个语言的横截面,而不是语言自然的变化过程。

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选

It sees successive cross-sections, and it calls that "history."

它看到了不同的剖面，将它们称为历史“

耶鲁公开课 - 文学理论导论课程节选