J. D. A. Widdowson
J.D.A. Widdowson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1935 (age 90–91) Sheffield, England |
| Occupations | Linguist, folklorist |
| Known for | Founding the Centre for English Cultural Tradition and Language (CECTAL), work on the Survey of English Dialects |
| Awards | Coote Lake Medal (2000) |
| Honors | Honorary degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Edinburgh |
| Academic background | |
| Education | University of Oxford University of Leeds (MA) Memorial University of Newfoundland (PhD) |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of Sheffield |
John David Allison Widdowson (born 1935) is a British linguist and folklorist, recognized for his significant contributions to the study of English language and cultural traditions. He is the founder of the Centre for English Cultural Tradition and Language (CECTAL) at the University of Sheffield, which later became the National Centre for English Cultural Tradition (NATCECT), and he served as its director for four decades.
Widdowson played a crucial role in the Survey of English Dialects, co-editing the Linguistic Atlas of England (1978) and co-authoring its accompanying Dictionary and Grammar (1994). His extensive work also includes the creation of the Bibliography of British Folklore (1996) and the establishment of the Centre for English Traditional Heritage (CETH) in 2000. He is an honorary graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Edinburgh and served as President of the Folklore Society from 1987 to 1990.