Charles Carpenter Fries

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The accomplishments of American structuralist Charles Carpenter Fries (1887-1967) in linguistics and language teaching have often been overlooked due to his non-traditional approach, which did not align with the popular views of structuralists and generativists. This oversight can be addressed by examining Fries’ comprehensive contributions in relation to those of his contemporary, Leonard Bloomfield. A comparative analysis of their linguistic approaches, perspectives on behaviorism and traditional grammar, and their theories reveals that Fries’ insights generally surpass Bloomfield’s in relevance and impact. This book aims to enhance appreciation for Fries’ contributions through three research avenues: first, it presents a holistic view of Fries within his historical context, highlighting his humanistic educational philosophy and critiques of behaviorism and traditional grammar; second, it compares his achievements in language theory, description, and teaching reading skills to those of Bloomfield; and third, it connects these accomplishments to contemporary discussions in linguistics. Ultimately, through Fries’ example, the book advocates for a normative approach to linguistic research as a valuable method for addressing societal needs in language education.