TRUBETZKOY, Prince Nikolai Sergeyevich (Russian Knjaz Nikolaj Sergeevič Trubeckoj). Moscow 4(16).4.1890 — Vienna 25.6.1938. Russian Phonetician, Slavic and IE Linguist. Son of Sergej Nikolaevič Tr. (1862–1905),a Professor of philosophy and Rector of Moscow University, and Praskovja Vladimirovna Obolenskaja, of high nobility. Educated at home, became early interested in ethnology. Linguistics came as a help for ethnology, but soon took over. Started early (1905) writing studies on Finno-Ugric ethnology. In 1908-12 studied comparative linguistics, etc. at Moscow (under Porzeziński). Ph.D. (Kand.?) 1913. Further studies of Sanskrit and comparative linguistics at Leipzig under Windisch, Sievers, Leskien and Brugman. From 1915 Docent of Sanskrit and comparative linguistics at Moscow University. In the time of revolution he was on a field trip in the Caucasus and was then in 1918-20 Professor of Slavic at Rostov-on-Don (under Denikin’s governement). In 1919 he escaped with his wife to Constantinople, but lost all his papers. In 1920-22 Professor of Comparative linguistics at Sofia, from 1922 Professor of Slavic, from 1923 also Head of Department (succeeding Jagićand on his recommendation) at Vienna. Member of Austrian Academy 1930. Died of heart attack, Married Vera Petrovna Bazilevskaja (1892–1968), three daughters and one son.
As Docent Trubetzkoy taught Sanskrit, but soon turned to Slavic. He was famous of his phonological theory and an early proponent of areal linguistics. His long time interest was the reconstruction of the development from IE to Proto-Slavic and from this to modern languages. In the late 1920s he turned to phonology and the Prague school. He was a staunch anti-communist, but also sharply criticized Nazis.
Publications: Wrote much on Slavic, also on Finno-Ugrian and Caucasian languages.
– Grundzüge der Phonologie. 271 p. Travaux du Cercle Linguistique de Prague 7. Prague 1939, English Principles of Phonology. Transl. Chr. A. M. Baltaxe. 16+344 p. Berkeley – L.A. 1969, also in French and Russian.
Sources: R. Jakobson, *Acta Linguistica 1, 1939, 64-76 (republ. in Sebeok 1966:2, 526-542); R. Lewicki, Lex. Gramm. 1996, 934-936; *U. Maas, Verfolgung und Auswanderung deutschsprachiger Sprachforscher 1933-1945 (online); A. Vaillant, Revue des études slaves 19, 1939, 200-202; Wikipedia with photo.
*R. Jakobson (ed.), N. S. Trubetzkoy’s Letters and Notes. 23+506 p. the Hague 1975.
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