Albert Lange Fliflet
Encyclopedia
Albert Lange Fliflet was a Norwegian philologist and translator. He is best known for translating Kalevala
.
He was born in Inderøy
as a son of dean
Andreas Vilhelm Agersborg Fliflet (1874–1956) and nurse Charlotte Lange (1869–1948). He grew up in Stjørdal
and Øvre Sandsvær
, and learned Latin, Hebrew
, German
and English from his parents. He started learning Finnish
after the Finnish geology professor Aarne Laitakari visited the district in 1923, catching his interest in the language. The two subsequently wrote letters to each other. Fliflet finished
his secondary education in 1926 in Kongsberg
, and after enrolling at the Royal Frederick University
in the same year, he graduated with the mag.art. degree in Finno-Ugric languages
in 1938.
He worked as a school teacher in Tromsø
from 1939 to 1941, and as a lecturer at the University of Bergen
from 1964 to 1978. In between he worked as a freelance translator from Latin, German, Finnish, Hungarian
and Dutch
into Norwegian; mostly poetry. His first poetry translation was the anthology Finland synger from 1947. In 1967 he released Kalevala
in Nynorsk
. Fliflet also contributed to Norsk allkunnebok
. He also translated Imre Mádach
, Gyula Illyés
, Joost van den Vondel
, Franz Grillparzer
and Kanteletar
.
He was awarded the Bastian Prize
in 1968 for translating Kalevala, received an honorary degree
at the University of Helsinki
in 1990 and received the Pro Cultura Hungarica medal in 1996.
From 1946 to 1949 he was married to Lilli Gjerløw
(1910–1998), and from 1953 to Marianne Tudeer. He died in 2001.
Kalevala
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature...
.
He was born in Inderøy
Inderøy
Inderøy is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Straumen. Other villages include Gangstadhaugen, Hylla, Kjerknesvågen, Røra, Sakshaug, Sandvollan, Småland, Utøy, and Vangshylla.The...
as a son of dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
Andreas Vilhelm Agersborg Fliflet (1874–1956) and nurse Charlotte Lange (1869–1948). He grew up in Stjørdal
Stjørdal
is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Stjørdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Stjørdal, also called Stjørdalshalsen...
and Øvre Sandsvær
Øvre Sandsvær
Øvre Sandsvær is a former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.It was created when Sandsvær was split into Øvre and Ytre Sandsvær on 1 January 1908. At that time Øvre Sandsvær had a population of 2,464. In 1939 a district with 33 inhabitants was moved to Flesberg municipality.On 1 January 1964...
, and learned Latin, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
and English from his parents. He started learning Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
after the Finnish geology professor Aarne Laitakari visited the district in 1923, catching his interest in the language. The two subsequently wrote letters to each other. Fliflet finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1926 in Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
, and after enrolling at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in the same year, he graduated with the mag.art. degree in Finno-Ugric languages
Finno-Ugric languages
Finno-Ugric , Finno-Ugrian or Fenno-Ugric is a traditional group of languages in the Uralic language family that comprises the Finno-Permic and Ugric language families....
in 1938.
He worked as a school teacher in Tromsø
Kongsbakken videregående skole
Kongsbakken Upper Secondary School is an upper secondary school in Tromsø, Norway. In the year 2000, Kongsbakken videregående skole had approximately 650 pupils, with about as many boys as girls. The school administration consists of a headmaster, a deputy headmaster, six section leaders and an...
from 1939 to 1941, and as a lecturer at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
from 1964 to 1978. In between he worked as a freelance translator from Latin, German, Finnish, Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
and Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
into Norwegian; mostly poetry. His first poetry translation was the anthology Finland synger from 1947. In 1967 he released Kalevala
Kalevala
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature...
in Nynorsk
Nynorsk
Nynorsk or New Norwegian is one of two official written standards for the Norwegian language, the other being Bokmål. The standard language was created by Ivar Aasen during the mid-19th century, to provide a Norwegian alternative to the Danish language which was commonly written in Norway at the...
. Fliflet also contributed to Norsk allkunnebok
Norsk Allkunnebok
Norsk Allkunnebok is a Norwegian encyclopedia published in ten volumes in Nynorsk language by the publishing house Fonna Forlag from 1948 to 1966.Principal editor was Arnulv Sudmann....
. He also translated Imre Mádach
Imre Madách
Imre Madách de Sztregova et de Kelecsény was a Hungarian writer, poet, lawyer and politician. His major work is The Tragedy of Man . It is a dramatic poem approximately 4000 lines long, which elaborates on ideas comparable to Goethe's Faust...
, Gyula Illyés
Gyula Illyés
Gyula Illyés was a Hungarian poet and novelist. He was one of the so called népi writers, named so because they aimed to show – propelled by strong sociological interest and left-wing convictions – the disadvantageous conditions of their native land.-Early life:He was born...
, Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel was a Dutch writer and playwright. He is considered the most prominent Dutch poet and playwright of the 17th century. His plays are the ones from that period that are still most frequently performed, and his epic Joannes de Boetgezant , on the life of John the Baptist, has...
, Franz Grillparzer
Franz Grillparzer
Franz Seraphicus Grillparzer was an Austrian writer who is chiefly known for his dramas. He also wrote the oration for Ludwig van Beethoven's funeral.-Biography:...
and Kanteletar
Kanteletar
Kanteletar is a collection of Finnish folk poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot. It is considered to be a sister collection to the Finnish national epic Kalevala...
.
He was awarded the Bastian Prize
Bastian Prize
The Bastian Prize is a prize awarded annually by the Norwegian Association of Literary Translators.The prize, established in 1951, is given for translating a published work into Norwegian language...
in 1968 for translating Kalevala, received an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
in 1990 and received the Pro Cultura Hungarica medal in 1996.
From 1946 to 1949 he was married to Lilli Gjerløw
Lilli Gjerløw
Lilli Gjerløw was a Norwegian archivist.She was born in Nord-Audnedal as a daughter of vicar John Jenssøn Gjerløw and Agnes Christine Boye. The family moved to Arendal when she was young. She was a niece of Mons Klingenberg Gjerløw and Ragnvald Gjerløw and a first cousin of Olaf Gjerløw...
(1910–1998), and from 1953 to Marianne Tudeer. He died in 2001.