John C. (Ian) Catford was a prominent figure in 20th century American linguistics, and in linguistics at the University of Michigan. He was on faculty at Michigan from 1964 until his retirement in 1985, and during that time served as director of the English Language Institute (1964-68), and two terms as chair of the Department of Linguistics (1968-71; 1984-85). At his retirement, he delivered a series of eight lectures (the “Catford Lectures”), reflecting on his life in linguistics. After being forgotten for many years, the lectures were found in VHS format in a cabinet in the English Language Institute. Thanks to the initiative of linguistics alum Alan Pagliere (MA 1980), the Catford Lectures have been digitized and are preserved in the University's Deep Blue digital repository. Covering a broad range of topics including 20th-century linguistics, articulatory phonetics, the teaching of English, and the languages of the Caucasus, Catford’s lectures offer both educational and historical value. His engaging personal anecdotes, such as linking his love for steam locomotives to phonation, add a unique charm to the series.
For more information on John C. Catford’s contributions to linguistics, you can explore his in memoriam page.
