A. V. Grebenshchikov
Encyclopedia
Aleksandr Vasil'evich Grebenshchikov was a Soviet scholar of the Tungusic languages
. He was specifically interested in the origin and development of Manchu writing.
beginning in 1902, where he was educated as a Sinologist, and upon his graduation in 1907 began working as an instructor there; he became a full professor in 1918. From 1908 until 1927 he made a number of trips to Northeast China
to perform fieldwork. His focus on his work in collecting Manchu folklore led him to miss out on the extent of language shift
to Chinese
among the Manchu
people; from this, he erroneously concluded that the Manchu language was not endangered
. He moved to Leningrad
in 1935 to work with the Institute of Oriental Studies
(IOS) of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. In 1936, he established the Manchu studies section of the IOS, and became its first chairman, with B. I. Pankratov
(1892-1979), K. M. Cheremisov (1899-1982), and V. A. Zhebrovsky working under him. He died during the Siege of Leningrad
. He was survived by his wife N. A. Grebenshchikova, who donated his personal archives to the IOS.
.
Tungusic languages
The Tungusic languages form a language family spoken in Eastern Siberia and Manchuria by Tungusic peoples. Many Tungusic languages are endangered, and the long-term future of the family is uncertain...
. He was specifically interested in the origin and development of Manchu writing.
Education and career
He attended the Oriental Institute in VladivostokVladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
beginning in 1902, where he was educated as a Sinologist, and upon his graduation in 1907 began working as an instructor there; he became a full professor in 1918. From 1908 until 1927 he made a number of trips to Northeast China
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
to perform fieldwork. His focus on his work in collecting Manchu folklore led him to miss out on the extent of language shift
Language shift
Language shift, sometimes referred to as language transfer or language replacement or assimilation, is the progressive process whereby a speech community of a language shifts to speaking another language. The rate of assimilation is the percentage of individuals with a given mother tongue who speak...
to Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
among the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
people; from this, he erroneously concluded that the Manchu language was not endangered
Endangered language
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use. If it loses all its native speakers, it becomes a dead language. If eventually no one speaks the language at all it becomes an "extinct language"....
. He moved to Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
in 1935 to work with the Institute of Oriental Studies
Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences , formerly Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences, is Russia's leading research institution for the study of the countries and cultures of Asia and North Africa...
(IOS) of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. In 1936, he established the Manchu studies section of the IOS, and became its first chairman, with B. I. Pankratov
B. I. Pankratov
Boris Ivanovich Pankratov was a Soviet Sinologist and Mongolist.-Academic career:Pankratov was a graduate of the Oriental Institute in Vladivostok. In 1919, he went to Hankow , China on the pretext of language practise before moving to Peking in 1921 to take up a job with the local branch of the...
(1892-1979), K. M. Cheremisov (1899-1982), and V. A. Zhebrovsky working under him. He died during the Siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
. He was survived by his wife N. A. Grebenshchikova, who donated his personal archives to the IOS.
Influence
Grebenshschikov was one of the last of the early 20th-century Soviet scholars of Manchu to have done his undergraduate education in Sinology; the trend in the mid-20th century was for such scholars to come from a Mongolian studies background. His works on Tungusic languages numbered more than 50, including publication of his еarly collected manuscripts of some important Manchu oral folklore such as the Tale of the Nisan ShamanTale of the Nisan Shaman
The Tale of the Nisan Shaman is a Manchu folk tale about a female shaman who resurrects the son of a rich landowner.-Versions:...
.