Linguistics in Britain: Personal Histories (Publications of the Philological Society, 36)

This landmark volume provides a fascinating overview of the evolution of the discipline of linguistics in Britain since the end of the Second World War. It consists of a series of 'linguistics autobiographies' by 23 British linguists who played a major role in the development in the subject during the second half of the twentieth century. Commissioned by the Council of the Philological Society, contributors look back over the achievements of British linguistics in the previous 50 years. They reflect on how and why they went into linguistics, what branches of the subject attracted them, what formative influences they were exposed to, and how they reacted to them. They also consider the role they personally played in the intellectual and institutional development of the subject. The latter half of the 20th century was a remarkable time for linguistics in Britain. Prior to the World War II the only established posts in linguistics were specialist chairs of comparitive philology at Oxford, Cambridge and a few other universities, and of phonetics at University College London. The first chair of general linguistics was set up in London in 1944 for J.R. Firth, head of the Department of Phonetics and Linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies. During the 1950s and 60s, linguistics expanded rapidly in both the old and new universities. In 2001, 69 higher education institutions were offering 645 courses which include linguistics as part of an undergraduate degree; these include 19 single subject linguistic honours degrees on offer at 16 institutions. The new linguistics teachers had to learn about their subject during their first years of appointment. They had to deal with the subject as a whole, as well as with the particular theories held by their few seniors, such as Daniel Jones and Firth. They had no prior qualifications specifically in linguistics, degree courses being mostly the product of the 1960s This generation had to find its own way into the subject and establish and articulate it for various degree syllabuses, while at the same time establishing themselves as teachers and research workers. The beginning of the new millennium seems to be an opportune moment to look back over the achievements of the previous half century. The Council of the Philological Society decided to mark the occasion with a volume of personal reminiscences by some of these most centrally involved in linguistics in that period. Contributors were asked to reflect on how and why they went into linguistics, what branches of the subject attracted them and what formative influences they were exposed to and how they reacted to them. They were also asked to reflect on the part they had played in the intellectual development of the subject and how they had contributed to the institutional development of linguistics as a subject This landmark volume provides a fascinating overview of the evolution of the discipline of linguistics in Britain since the end of the Second World War. It consists of a series of 'linguistic autobiographies' by 23 British linguists who played a major role in the development of the subject during the second half of the twentieth century.Commissioned by the Council of the Philological Society, contributors look back over the achievements of British linguistics in the previous 50 years. They reflect on how and why they went into linguistics, what branches of the subject attracted them, what formative influences they were exposed to, and how they reacted to them. They also consider the role they personally played in the intellectual and institutional development of the subject Preface -- Jean Aitchison -- W. Sidney Allen -- R. E. Asher -- John Bendor-samuel -- Gillian Brown -- N. E. Collinge -- Joseph Cremona -- David Crystal -- Gerald Gazdar -- M.a.k. Halliday -- Richard Hudson -- John Laver -- Geoffrey Leech -- John Lyons -- Peter Matthews -- Anna Morpurgo Davies -- Frank Palmer -- Randolph Quirk -- R.h. Robins -- Neil Smith -- J. L. M. Trim -- Peter Trudgill -- John Wells -- General Index Edited By Keith Brown And Vivien Law. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 5 Preface 7 Jean Aitchison 9 W. Sidney Allen 22 R. E. Asher 36 John Bendor-Samuel 51 Gillian Brown 61 N. E. Collinge 75 Joseph Cremona 86 David Crystal 99 Gerald Gazdar 112 M. A. K. Halliday 124 Richard Hudson 135 John Laver 147 Geoffrey Leech 163 John Lyons 178 Peter Matthews 208 Anna Morpurgo Davies 221 Frank Palmer 236 Randolph Quirk 247 R. H. Robins 257 Neil Smith 270 J. L. M. Trim 282 Peter Trudgill 294 John Wells 305 General Index 315 Preface / Jean Aitchison / W. Sidney Allen / R. E. Asher / John Bendor-Samuel / Gillian Brown / N. E. Collinge / Joseph Cremona / David Crystal / Gerald Gazdar / M. A. K. Halliday / Richard Hudson / John Laver / Geoffrey Leech / John Lyons / Peter Matthews / Anna Morpungo Davies / Frank Palmer / Randolph Quirk / R. H. Robins / Neil Smith / J. L. M. Trim / Peter Trudgill / John Wells / General Index This is a collection of a linguistic autobiographiesa by 23 British linguists who played a major role in the development of the subject in Britain during the second half of the twentieth century. aeo Includes contributions from 23 major British linguists. aeo Provides an overview of the rapid growth of linguistics in the last 50 years. 'Look, gee-gees!' said the visitor as, on my third birthday, I showed her my new toy farm, with its miniature horses in their own stable.