Foreign Language Study

Archive Report

Rising Demand for American Linguists

Passage of the National Defense Education Act of (Sept. 2) 1958 may help to ease a critical shortage of accomplished linguists in this country. The new law is unique among general education acts in that it singles out the study of modern foreign languages, along with mathematics and science, for special consideration. The statute's provisions in aid of language instruction were added in recognition of handicaps the United States labors under from neglect of this kind of study. Reports that Russia is rich in linguists with a command not only of the major tongues of Europe but also of languages spoken in key countries of Africa and of Asia bolstered support for the measure.

The United States formerly showed little or ...

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