The science of language began, tentatively and approximately, when the minds of men first turned to problems like these: How is it that people do not speak everywhere the same language? How were words first created? What is the relation between a name and the thing it stands for? Why is such and such a person, or such and such a thing, called this and not that? The first answers to these questions, like primitive answers to other riddles of the universe, were largely theological: God, or o...

The book outlines various teaching strategies and methods, highlighting how educators can effectively teach language by focusing on immersion, repetition, and contextual learning. Jespersen combines linguistic theory with practical application, stressing that effective foreign language teaching must account for both the psychological aspects of learning and the grammatical systems of the target language.How to Teach a Foreign Language serves as a comprehensive guide for teachers and educat...

This early work by Otto Jespersen was originally published in the early 20th century and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 'Efficiency in Linguistic Change' is an informative work on linguistics and includes chapters on 'Sound-Laws', 'Semantics', 'Glottic', and much more. Otto Jespersen was born in Randers, Denmark on 16th July 1869. He worked as an academic at Copenhagen University and rose to the position of professor of English, a post he held from 1893...

The scientific attitude of mind is necessarily critical, but never sceptical without proper investigation and knowledge. The Translator hopes, therefore, that English-speaking men of science will not judge the question of international language before they have quietly and dispassionately examined the arguments so ably set forth in the following pages. It is not a question of "another language"; it is a question of the final solution by the methods of science of one of the greatest of scie...

In "Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin," Otto Jespersen explores the intricate tapestry of language, considering its biological, psychological, and social dimensions. Through a rigorous linguistic framework, Jespersen employs a descriptive and analytical style that deftly combines historical linguistics with contemporary insights, revealing the evolution of language as a dynamic and living system. He delves into concepts such as phonetics, syntax, and semantics while situating li...

This early work Otto Jespersen was originally published in 1905 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 'Growth and Structure of the English Language' is a scholarly linguistic study. Otto Jespersen was born in Randers, Denmark on 16th July 1869. He worked as an academic at Copenhagen University and rose to the position of professor of English, a post he held from 1893 to 1925. Jespersen made a considerable contribution to the study of linguistics and some o...

When, in accordance with a wish expressed by English and American friends, I determined to have my Sprogundervisning translated into English, I found it difficult to decide what to retain and what to leave out of the original. So much of what I had written appeared to me to apply more or less exclusively to Danish schools and Danish methods, and I had too little personal experience of the practice of English teachers or of English school-books to be quite sure of the advisability in each c...

"How to Teach a Foreign Language" by Otto Jespersen is an authoritative and insightful guide that explores the art and science of teaching languages. Written by a renowned linguist, this book offers a thorough analysis of the most effective methods and principles for teaching a foreign language, making it an invaluable resource for language instructors, educators, and language enthusiasts alike.Jespersen outlines the key principles of language learning and emphasiz...

In "Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin," Otto Jespersen presents a profound exploration of linguistic evolution, analyzing the intricate relationship between language and human cognition. Combining meticulous scholarship with an accessible prose style, Jespersen delves into the nature of language as a dynamic social phenomenon. He examines the historical and cultural contexts that shape linguistic change, offering insights into phonetics, grammar, and the interplay of dialects. T...

This book is a classic work of linguistics, created by one of the most prominent scholars, Otto Jaspersen. The linguistic importance of this book is attributed to the fact that it underlines the importance of the role of the speaker in the natural development of the language. The topics presented in this book include the history of linguistics pre and during the 19th century, the development of child language, the role of the speaker on language development, causes for the linguistic chang...

About twenty years ago, when I began to be interested in a reformation of the teaching of modern languages, there were not, as there are now, numerous books and articles on the subject, but merely scattered hints, especially in the works of Sweet and Storm. It was not long, however, before the movement found itself well under headway, especially in Germany. In Scandinavia it began at the appearance of the adaptation which I had made of Felix Franke’s capital little pamphlet, “Die praktisch...

This volume, first published in 1960 to commemorate the one hundredth birthday of Jespersen, collects together as many of his writings as possible in order to allow students of the English language, or indeed of language in general, to read those shorter papers which have hitherto escaped their notice. The layout of the book largely follows the nature of the subjects dealt with: English grammar, phonetics, history of English, language teaching, language in general, international language a...