DERVICHIAN, Serope (Seraphin Dervischjan). 1846 — 1899. Armenian Linguist. Mekhitarist, studied at Vienna, mainly Sanskrit and Pehlevi. Hübschmann wrote a very negative review of his book (ZDMG 30, 1876, 774-779). Publications: Armeniaka. 1. Das altarmenische “k”. Ein Beitrag zur indo-europäischen Lautlehre. 117 p. Vienna 1877; La langue primitive indo-européenne. 1885…
CRAIG, James Alexander. Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario 5.3.1855 — Toronto 16.5.1932. Canadian Linguist. Son of farmer James Craig and Rachel Cughan. Studies of philosophy at McGill (B.A. 1880 and M.A. 1883) and theology at Yale (B.D. 1883). Ordained priest 1883. Then three years further studies at Leipzig (Ph.D. 1886 under Delitzsch).…
COSTA, Traian. 1926 — 1995. Romanian Linguist and Classical Scholar. Student of Bănăţeanu, taught Sanskrit at the Bucharest University after his death (1963). Professor. Married Emilia, Ioana Costa (b. 1959), Professor of Classical Philology at Bucharest, is their daughter. Publications: Wrote on Greek and Latin literature, translated classics. – Review…
BUTLIN, Raymond Thomas. Fishley, Middlesex 6.2.1907 — Knysma, Western Cape, South Africa 15.11.1990. British Phonetician. Son of Arthur Butlin and Mabel Griffin. Taught at S.O.A.S. From 1939 Sub-Director of Institute of English Studies in Athens. In the 1950s he was the head of British Council in Finland and died in South…
BRAUNHOLTZ, Gustav Ernst Karl. Cambridge 19.3.1887 — 21.4.1967. British Linguist (IE and Classic). Son of Eugen Gustav Braunholtz (1859–1941), German academician who moved in 1884 to Cambridge (note his diss. Die erste nichtchristliche Parabel des Barlaam und Josaphat. Ihre Herkunft und Verbreitung. 8+110 p. Halle 1884) and Elisabeth Breul. Studies…
BELSER, Carl William. New Washington, Ohio 21.12.1860 — Boulder, Colorado 28.1.1898. U.S. Linguist. Professor in Ann Arbor and Boulder. Son of a clergyman, Rev. Herman Frederick Belser (1829–1900) and Mary Kocher (1837–1887). B.A. 1882 from University of Michigan, then also M.A. In the 1880s taught Latin at Mount Morris College…
BAUDIŠ, Josef. Prague 27.8.1883 — Bratislava 4.5.1933. Czech IE and Celtic Linguist and Folklorist. Gymnasium and studies (1902-06) in Prague. Ph.D. 1906 (under Zubatý). Soon PD at Prague, also taught at a gymnasium there. After WW lived some time in the U.K. studying Celtology. From 1924 Professor at Comenius University in…
ABEL, Iwarus (Ivar). Ejstrup Mølle, Asferg Sogn near Randers 1720 — Fredensborg, North Zealand 1788. Danish Linguist. Son of Jens Iversen Abel, a miller, and Karen Jensdatter. Educated in Viborg, studied law at Copenhagen. In 1761-71 worked as procurator in Copenhagen city court, now also became interested in languages. Last…
WRIGHT, Joseph. Idle near Bradford, Yorkshire 31.10.1855 — Oxford 27.2.1930. British Linguist. Son of Dufton Wright (d. 1866), a woollen cloth weaver and quarryman, and Sarah Ann Atkinson, a modest family. Working from childhood in various odd jobs he started night-school when 15, concentrating on languages, and in 1876 went…
WAIT, William Henry. McConnell, Illinois 1854? — Ann Arbor 28.2.1939. U.S. Linguist and Germanist. Son of Nelson W. and Mary Catherine Root. Graduated B.A. 1879 from Northwestern University, A.M. there 1882. Ph.D. 1888 Allegheny. From 1883 taught at Illinois Wesleyan University. Further studies at Berlin and Bonn 1894-95. In 1895-1901…