FREI, Henri. Baar, Canton Zug 5.6.1899 — Hedingen, Canton Zürich 14.11.1980. Swiss Linguist. Professor in Geneva. Son of Gustav Adolf Frei, an industrialist, and Ida Dändliker. Studies of linguistics at Geneva and Paris (É.L.O.V.) until 1926 (including New Indo-Aryan and Japanese). Ph.D. 1929 Geneva (under Bally). In 1933-34 Professor at…
FRANKE, Rudolf Otto. Wickerode, Harz 24.6.1862 — Königsberg 5.2.1928. German Indologist. Professor in Königsberg. Son of Alexander Franke (1833–1887), a mill owner, and Clara Osterloh (1834–1882). Educated at the school of Franckesche Stiftungen in Halle. In 1881-85 studies of classical and Germanic philology, then Indology (under Kielhorn) at Göttingen, also…
FRANK, Othmar (born Johann Georg Frank). Bamberg 8.5.1770 — Vienna 16.9.1840. German Pioneer of Indology. Professor in Munich. Son of Konrad Frank, a master tailor, and Maria-Anna Köberlein. After school in Bamberg he entered the Benedictine monastery of Banz near Bamberg (now taking the new name Othmar Frank), and was…
FRACHTENBERG, Leo Joachim. Czernowitz (now Chernivtsi in Ukraine) 24.2.1883 — Waterloo, Iowa 26.11.1930. U.S. (Austrian-born) Linguist and Anthropologist. Son of Abraham Frachtenberg and Jeanette Rottenstreich, a Jewish family. Gymnasium in Przemyśl (now in Poland), immediately after graduation in 1904 immigrated to the U.S.A. Studies at Cornell, then at Columbia University…
FOHALLE, René François Joseph. Verviers near Liège 12.5.1899 — 1984. Belgian Linguist. Professor in Liège. Obtained classical education at Athénée royal de Verviers in 1910-17, then studies of classical philology, linguistics and Indology at Liège in 1919-22 and 1924-26, in 1922-24 Sanskrit and linguistics in Paris (Meillet, Benveniste). Doctor en…
FIRTH, John Rupert. Keighley, Yorkshire 17.6.1890 — Linfield, Sussex 14.12.1960. British Linguist and Phonetician. Professor in London. Son of William Firth. Educated at Keighley. Studied history at Leeds University (M.A. 1913). A brief time Lecturer in History at City of Leeds Training College, then joined Indian Educational Service in 1914,…
FERRAND, Paul Joseph Gabriel. Marseille 22.1.1864 — Paris 31.1.1935. French Diplomat, Oriental (esp. Arabic) Scholar and a Specialist of Asian Historical Geography. Studies at É.L.O.V.. Served in administrative offices in French Somaliland (Djibouti) and 1887-96 in Madagascar, then as French Consul in Thailand (1896-98), Iran (1898-1900), Indonesia, Germany, and finally…
FERGUSON, Charles Albert (“Fergie”). Philadelphia, PA 6.7.1921 — Palo Alto, CAL 2.9.1998. U.S. Linguist and Bengali Scholar. Professor in Stanford. Born in a working-class family, grew up in Philadelphia From 1939 studies at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia: B.A. 1942, A.M. 1943 (thesis on Arabic), Ph.D. 1945 (Bengali). In 1946-55…
ESTELLER Y MELIÀ, Adolfo. Alcanar (Montsià) near Valencia 10.1.1899 — 18.3.1984. S.J. Spanish Indologist in India. Professor in Bombay. Son of estate manager Hermengildo Esteller and Elisa Melia. Joined the S.J. 1914. Educated in Castellon and Zaragoza, then studies of philosophy at Pontificia Universitá Gregoriana in Rome (Ph.D. there 1921).…
ERDMAN, Axel. Stockholm 6.2.1843 — Uppsala 8.11.1926. Swedish Linguist. Professor of English in Uppsala. Son of the mineralogist Axel J. Erdman (1814–1869) and Sophia Charlotta Nyström, educated in Stockholm. From 1861 studies of classical and modern languages at Uppsala, fil.kand. 1869. Then school-teacher of classical languages and English. In 1871…