André Martinet
Encyclopedia
André Martinet was a French linguist
, influential by his work on structural
linguistics
.
Martinet agrégated
in English
and received his doctorate
after submitting, as is traditional in France, two theses: La gemination consonantique d'origine expressive dans les langues germaniques and La phonologie du mot en danois. From 1938 to 1946 he was a director of studies of the École pratique des hautes études
. Following World War II
he moved to New York
, where he was to remain until 1955.
During his time in New York Martinet directed the International Auxiliary Language Association
and taught at Columbia University
, where he served as chair of the department from 1947 to 1955. Also, during this time, he became editor of Word, a linguistics journal. In 1955 he returned to his position at École Pratique des Hautes Études
and took up a chair in general linguistics at the Sorbonne
, and then Paris V. He continued to be active professionally, serving as president of the European Linguistic Society and founding both the Society for Functional Linguistics and the journal La Linguistique.
The Prague School of linguistics was one of Martinet's main influences, and he is known for pioneering a functionalist approach to syntax which led to a violent polemic with Noam Chomsky
. He wrote over twenty books on topics ranging from historical linguistics
(Économie des changements phonétiques, 1955) to general linguistic theory. His most widely known work, Elements of General Linguistics (1960) has been translated into seventeen languages and has influenced a generation of students both in France and abroad. Other works include General Syntax (1985), The Function and Dynamics of Language (1989), and an intellectual autobiography entitled Memories of a Linguist and the Life of Language.
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, influential by his work on structural
Structuralism
Structuralism originated in the structural linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure and the subsequent Prague and Moscow schools of linguistics. Just as structural linguistics was facing serious challenges from the likes of Noam Chomsky and thus fading in importance in linguistics, structuralism...
linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
.
Martinet agrégated
Agrégation
In France, the agrégation is a civil service competitive examination for some positions in the public education system. The laureates are known as agrégés...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
after submitting, as is traditional in France, two theses: La gemination consonantique d'origine expressive dans les langues germaniques and La phonologie du mot en danois. From 1938 to 1946 he was a director of studies of the École pratique des hautes études
École pratique des hautes études
The École pratique des hautes études is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions....
. Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he was to remain until 1955.
During his time in New York Martinet directed the International Auxiliary Language Association
International Auxiliary Language Association
The International Auxiliary Language Association was founded in 1924 to "promote widespread study, discussion and publicity of all questions involved in the establishment of an auxiliary language, together with research and experiment that may hasten such establishment in an intelligent manner and...
and taught at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he served as chair of the department from 1947 to 1955. Also, during this time, he became editor of Word, a linguistics journal. In 1955 he returned to his position at École Pratique des Hautes Études
École pratique des hautes études
The École pratique des hautes études is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions....
and took up a chair in general linguistics at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, and then Paris V. He continued to be active professionally, serving as president of the European Linguistic Society and founding both the Society for Functional Linguistics and the journal La Linguistique.
The Prague School of linguistics was one of Martinet's main influences, and he is known for pioneering a functionalist approach to syntax which led to a violent polemic with Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
. He wrote over twenty books on topics ranging from historical linguistics
Historical linguistics
Historical linguistics is the study of language change. It has five main concerns:* to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages...
(Économie des changements phonétiques, 1955) to general linguistic theory. His most widely known work, Elements of General Linguistics (1960) has been translated into seventeen languages and has influenced a generation of students both in France and abroad. Other works include General Syntax (1985), The Function and Dynamics of Language (1989), and an intellectual autobiography entitled Memories of a Linguist and the Life of Language.
Publications
- La description phonologique avec application au parler francoprovençal d'Hauteville (Savoie), coll. « Publication romanes et françaises », Genève, Librairie Droz, 1956.
- Éléments de linguistique générale, Paris, Armand Colin, 1960.
- Langue et fonction, 1962.
- La linguistique synchronique, Paris, Presses universitaires de France, 1965.
- Le français sans fard, coll. « Sup », Paris, PUF, 1969.
- André Martinet, Langue et Fonction, Paris : Denoël, 1969, ©1962.
- Studies in Functional Syntax, München, Wilhelm Fink Verlag, 1975.
- Évolution des langues et reconstruction, Paris, PUF, 1975.
- Syntaxe générale, 1985.
- Des steppes aux océans, Paris, Payot, 1986.
- Fonction et dynamique des langues, Paris, Armand Colin, 1989.
- Mémoires d'un linguiste, vivre les langues, Paris, Quai Voltaire, 1993 (with G. Kassai and J. Martinet).
Personal Life
Martinet was married twice:- To Karen Martinet (née Mikkelsen Sørensen)
- To Jeanne MartinetJeanne MartinetJeanne Martinet , a recognized semiotician, is proprietor of a semiotics school. Her husband was the eminent linguist André Martinet . In 1973 in Paris, Jeanne Martinet published the book Clefs pour la sémiologie, which has been translated into numerous languages...
(née Allard).