Anton Bernolák
Encyclopedia
Anton Bernolák
Anton Bernolák (1 October 1762 in Slanica (a now inundated village near Námestovo
– 15 January 1813 in Nové Zámky
) was a Slovak linguist and Catholic
priest
and the author of the first Slovak language
standard.
. He studied at a grammar school (gymnasium) in Ružomberok
1772-76, and later in Trnava
and Vienna
and graduated in theology at the general seminary in Preßburg
in 1787. In the very same year, he codified the first Slovak language standard, which he based on western Slovak dialects spoken around Trnava, with some elements from the central dialects. The language, called bernolákovčina, however, wasn't accepted as a national standard language, although was a milestone in the way to the formation of modern Slovak nation. In 1787-91 he was a curate
in Bernolákovo
, in 1791-97 a secretary in the archbishoprical vicar's office in Trnava
and from 1797 until his death in 1813 a priest in Nové Zámky
.
His language was the basis for activities of the Slovenské učené tovarišstvo (Slovak Educated Brotherhood), established in 1792 in Trnava and for the movement of Bernolák's followers, which lasted three generations.
Anton Bernolák (1 October 1762 in Slanica (a now inundated village near Námestovo
Námestovo
Námestovo is a town in northern Slovakia. It is the capital and largest town of Námestovo District in the Žilina Region. its population was 8,094.-Geography:...
– 15 January 1813 in Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky is a town in southwestern Slovakia.-Geography:The town is located on the Danubian Lowland, on the Nitra River, at an altitude of 119 metres. It is located around 100 km from Bratislava and around 25 km from the Hungarian border. It is a road and railway hub of southern...
) was a Slovak linguist and Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and the author of the first Slovak language
Slovak language
Slovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
standard.
Life
He was born to a lower noble family in Orava (region)Orava (region)
Orava is the traditional name of a region situated in northern Slovakia and partially also in southern Poland . It encompasses the territory of the former Árva county.-History:...
. He studied at a grammar school (gymnasium) in Ružomberok
Ružomberok
Ružomberok is a town in northern Slovakia, in the historical Liptov region. It has a population of around 30,000-Geography:...
1772-76, and later in Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and graduated in theology at the general seminary in Preßburg
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
in 1787. In the very same year, he codified the first Slovak language standard, which he based on western Slovak dialects spoken around Trnava, with some elements from the central dialects. The language, called bernolákovčina, however, wasn't accepted as a national standard language, although was a milestone in the way to the formation of modern Slovak nation. In 1787-91 he was a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Bernolákovo
Bernolákovo
Bernolákovo is a village and municipality in western Slovakia in Senec District in the Bratislava Region.-Demography:Population by nationality:-External links:*...
, in 1791-97 a secretary in the archbishoprical vicar's office in Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
and from 1797 until his death in 1813 a priest in Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky is a town in southwestern Slovakia.-Geography:The town is located on the Danubian Lowland, on the Nitra River, at an altitude of 119 metres. It is located around 100 km from Bratislava and around 25 km from the Hungarian border. It is a road and railway hub of southern...
.
His language was the basis for activities of the Slovenské učené tovarišstvo (Slovak Educated Brotherhood), established in 1792 in Trnava and for the movement of Bernolák's followers, which lasted three generations.
Works
- 1782
- Divux rex Stephanus, magnus Hungarorum apostolus
- 1787
- Dissertatio-critica de literis Slavorum
- 1787
- Linguae Slavonicae… compendiosa simul et facilis Orthographia
- 1790
- Gramatica Slavica (Slovak Grammar)
- 1791
- Etymologia vocum slavicarum (Etymology of Slavic words)
- 1825 / 1827
- Slowár Slowenskí, Češko-Laťinsko-Ňemecko-Uherskí (A Slovak, Czech-Latin-German-Hungarian Dictionary), a six-volume dictionary, supposed to be a vocabulary manual of the literary language, published after Bernolák's death in BudaBudaFor detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
by canon Juraj Palkovič