Linguistic Foundations

by Anthony P.R. Howatt (Editor)

This volume forms part of a five volume set charting the progress of the nineteenth century movement which was instrumental in establishing international guidelines for the teaching of modern languages. It was during this period that for the first time, co-operation between phoneticians and teachers culminated in the publication of works that were instrumental in establishing the 'applied linguistic' approach to language teaching in the twentieth century. For the first time, too, the new science of psychology influenced a scientific theory of second language acquisition.
The Reform Movement attracted support across Europe, spurring the development of new professional associations and journals. In turn, the publication in these journals of reports of innovative practice contributed to a greater sense of autonomy and professionalism among modern language teachers, who had hitherto tended to live under the shadow of classical language teaching. The practical innovations and theoretical suggestions for the foreign language teaching, although rooted in the nineteenth century, still have relevance today.

480 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Anthony P.R. Howatt has retired as Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh, of which he is a graduate. After leaving university, he taught English as a foreign language in Cartagena, Spain, and in Cologne, Germany, returning to Edinburgh in the early 1960s to study for the Diploma in Applied Linguistics. After a period in Sweden, he returned once more to Edinburgh to take up an appointment in the Department of Applied Linguistics where he was Head of Department from 1990 to 1993.

His publications include A History of English Language Teaching, published by Oxford University Press, and his current research interests include the history of language in education.