Die Theorie der syntaktischen Gruppen (J. Fourquet): eine neue grammatische Terminologie

The paper aims to present the specificity of Fourquet’s syntactic group theory and to show how it fi ts into his didactic and pedagogical approaches as well as his linguiti c research in general. Fourquet challenges traditional grammar, the French approach to the German language system, and emphasises the need for a new perspective on language teaching, by moving away from the concept of word towards the concept of group. Syntax is also linked to semantics and even pragmatics. This is Fourquet’s undeniable contribution, albeit it is largely ignored today. The article also explains to what extent Fourquet’s group theory is innovative and discusses the current impact of the theory on German teaching in France. Fourquet’s works in French and German are also be analysed from this perspective.