Henry Widdowson
Encyclopedia
Henry Widdowson (born 1935) is an authority in the field of applied linguistics
and language teaching, specifically English language learning and teaching
.
Widdowson is perhaps best known for his contribution to communicative language teaching
. However, he has also published on other related subjects such as discourse analysis
and critical discourse analysis
, the global spread of English, English for Special Purposes and stylistics. The Routledge Encyclopedia of Language Teaching and Learning calls him "probably the most influential philosopher of the late twentieth century for international ESOL" (674).
Widdowson is Emeritus
Professor of Education, University of London
, and has also been Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Essex
and Professor of English Linguistics at the University of Vienna
. He is the Applied Linguistics adviser to Oxford University Press
and series adviser of Oxford Bookworms Collection. Widdowson is co-editor of Language Teaching: A Scheme for Teacher Education. He is the series editor of Oxford Introductions to Language Study and the author of Linguistics (1996) in the same series. He has also published Defining Issues in English Language Teaching (2002), and Practical Stylistics: An Approach to Poetry (1992).
His most recent book is Text, Context, Pretext. Critical Issues in Discourse Analysis (2004), published by Blackwell's
.
Applied linguistics
Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of study that identifies, investigates, and offers solutions to language-related real-life problems...
and language teaching, specifically English language learning and teaching
English language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
.
Widdowson is perhaps best known for his contribution to communicative language teaching
Communicative language teaching
Communicative language teaching is an approach to the teaching of second and foreign languages that emphasizes interaction as both the means and the ultimate goal of learning a language...
. However, he has also published on other related subjects such as discourse analysis
Discourse analysis
Discourse analysis , or discourse studies, is a general term for a number of approaches to analyzing written, spoken, signed language use or any significant semiotic event....
and critical discourse analysis
Critical discourse analysis
Critical discourse analysis is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of discourse that views language as a form of social practice and focuses on the ways social and political domination are visible in text and talk....
, the global spread of English, English for Special Purposes and stylistics. The Routledge Encyclopedia of Language Teaching and Learning calls him "probably the most influential philosopher of the late twentieth century for international ESOL" (674).
Widdowson is Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
Professor of Education, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and has also been Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
and Professor of English Linguistics at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
. He is the Applied Linguistics adviser to Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
and series adviser of Oxford Bookworms Collection. Widdowson is co-editor of Language Teaching: A Scheme for Teacher Education. He is the series editor of Oxford Introductions to Language Study and the author of Linguistics (1996) in the same series. He has also published Defining Issues in English Language Teaching (2002), and Practical Stylistics: An Approach to Poetry (1992).
His most recent book is Text, Context, Pretext. Critical Issues in Discourse Analysis (2004), published by Blackwell's
Blackwell's
Blackwell UK Ltd is a national chain of bookshops, online retail, mail order and library supply services in the United Kingdom, which has an annual turnover of £74 million...
.
Articles (brief extract)
- Widdowson, Henry G. (1992) "ELT and EL Teacher." ELT Journal 46/4. 333-339.
- Widdowson, Henry G. (1993) "Proper Words in proper Places." ELT Journal 47/4. 317-329.
- Widdowson Henry G. (1994) "The Ownership of English". TESOL Quarterly 28/2 377-89.
- Widdowson, Henry G. (1997) "EIL, ESL, EFL: global Issues and local Interests". World Englishes 16/1. 146-53.
- Widdowson, Henry G. (1998a) " EIL: squaring the Circles. A Reply." World Englishes 17/3 397-401.
- Widdowson, Henry G. (1998b) "Communication and Community. The Pragmatics of ESP." English for Specific Purposes 17/1 3-14.
- Widdowson, Henry G. (1998c) "The Theory and Practice of Critical Discourse Analysis." Applied Linguistics 19/1 136-151.
External links
- Some of Widdowson’s books (including his previously unpublished Ph.D. thesis) can be downloaded for free from the Oxford University Press: http://www.oup.com/elt/catalogue/guidance_articles/freebooks?cc=global
- H.G. Widdowson on TESOL
- Biography of H.G. Widdowson @ OUP
- Text, Context, Pretext. Critical Issues in Discourse Analysis (2005)
- University of Vienna, Department of English