Rafael Díez de la Cortina

Rafael Díez de la Cortina
Born
Rafael Díez de la Cortina y Olaeta

1859 (1859)
Died24 July 1939(1939-07-24) (aged 79–80)
OccupationsLinguist, publisher, entrepreneur
Political partyCarlism
Spouse(s)Marguerite Díez de la Cortina (her death)
Marion L. M. Fletcher (1933-1939; his death)
Parent(s)José Díez de la Cortina y Cerrato, Marqués de la Cortina
Elena Olaeta Bouyon
Signature

Rafael Díez de la Cortina y Olaeta, 1st Count of Olaeta (1859 – 24 July 1939) was a Spanish-American linguist. Globally, he is recognized as the first person to introduce sound recording into the teaching of foreign languages; he used it when operating his New-York-based company, Cortina Academy of Languages, launched in the 1890s. In Spain he is also known as a Carlist political activist and soldier; he volunteered to legitimist troops during the Third Carlist War and advanced the Carlist cause as the claimant's representative in America.