DEBRUNNER-RUDIN, Johann Albert. Basel 8.2.1884 — Bern 2.2.1958. Swiss Linguist. Professor in Bern and Jena. Son of Albert D., a potter, and Elisabeth Schaub, educated in Basel. From 1902 studies of classical philology and comparative linguistics at Basel (Sommer) and Göttingen (Wackernagel). Ph.D. 1907 Basel. In 1907-18 schoolteacher in Schiers, Basel and Zürich. From 1917 PD at Zürich, from 1918 ao. Professor at Greifswald. From 1920 ordinary Professor of IE linguistics and classical philology at Bern, for a while, 1925-35, Professor at Jena, then back to his chair at Bern (changing chair with the Nazi-minded Porzig). Retired in 1954. In 1940-49 also in charge of comparative linguistics at Basel. Married 1912 Martha Rudin, children.
Debrunner was mainly a Greek and IE scholar, but after Wackernagel’s (whom he had long time assisted) death in 1938 he concentrated on continuing the Altindische Grammatik, a work which was after his death continued by K. Hoffmann.
Publications: Diss. “Zu den konsonantischen io-Präsentien”, IF 21, 1907, 13-98, 201-276 (the right character for [j] is missing!).
– Much on Greek (especially New Testament language) and IE linguistics, edited Ed. Schwyzer’s Griechischer Grammatik. Munich 1950, after the author’s death (1943).
– J. Wackernagel & A. Debrunner: Altindische Grammatik. III. Nominalflexion, Zahlwort, Pronomen. 16+602 p. Göttingen 1930.
– Altindische Grammatik. II:2. Nominalsuffixe. 11+966 p. Göttingen 1954.
– Edited with Nachträge the 2nd ed. of Altindische Grammatik. I. Lautlehre. Göttingen 1957 (Nachträge by A.D., 194 p.), and of II:1. Einleitung zur Wortlehre, Nominalkomposition. Göttingen 1957 (Nachträge by A.D., 96 p.).
– Articles on Sanskrit grammar and etymology, e.g. “Der Typus tudá- im Altindischen”, BSOS 8, 1936, 487-500; further in AO 20, 1948, 120-132; ArO 1, 1949, 110f.; Festschrift Sommer 1955, 20-25.
– Edited: Wackernagel, “Indoiranica”, KZ 67, 1942, 154-182.
– Aktuelle Sprachwissenschaft, Zeitgeschehen und Zeitgeist im Spiegel der Sprache. Rektoratsrede. 60 p. Bern 1952 (Bericht über das Studienjahr 1950/51).
– With Sommer editor of IF 44-56, with Porzig of IJ 11-23.
Sources: An autobiographical manuscript published by Basel University in web.archive.org/web/20130919160854/http://klaphil.unibas.ch/fachbereiche/idg/geschichte/wer-war-wer/albert-debrunner/; *A. Bloch, Gnomon 30, 1958, 635-637; *G. Redard, Orbis 4, 1955, 277-280; R. Wachter in Web HistLezSchweiz; D.G.K. 1935; W. Wissmann, JahrbuchBaAW 1958, 167-171; briefly in D.B.E. 2, 1995, 455: *Sprachgeschichte und Wortbedeutung. Fs. A.D. 1954, with bibliography; German Wikipedia; photo in Basel University homepage and Rau 111, another in Sardesai.
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