Cristfried Ganander
Encyclopedia
Cristfried Ganander was a Finnish
compiler of folk culture
, a priest
and a 18th century lexicographer. Ganander's greatest achievement was the compilation of the first fully extensive Finnish-language
dictionary
which was, however, unpublished. He was also a collector of folk culture well before Elias Lönnrot
. His most well-known published work is Mythologia Fennica
in 1789, a reference book of folk religion
. He also published some poetry and worked as a teacher.
Ganander was born in Haapajärvi
in 1741 to chaplain
Thomas Ganader and his wife Helena Hiden. After his father's death in 1752, he was taken in by his grandfather Henrik Hiden, who was also a chaplain in the vicarage of Kauhajoki
. Ganander himelf later worked as a chaplain in Rantsila
from 1775 to 1790.
Ganander became a priest at the Academy of Turku and was consecrated to a post in 1763. He completed his Master's degree in 1766. While studying, he became influenced by the natural sciences and became interested in the notion of Finnishness of Henrik Gabriel Porthan
. He began his literary career by publishing a collection of riddles and fairy tales. His collection was published in 1783 and comprises 337 riddles. It is based on the folk poetry he had collected as well as the Finnish lexicon
.
In 1789, was published as a reference book of folk poetry, spells, traditions, and literary sources. The book was also a presentation of the early history of the Finnish people. A reprint
ed version was printed in 1961. Elias Lönnrot considered it to be a notable work. Lönnrot later continued from Ganader's starting point.
Nytt Finskt Lexicon
The most notable of Ganader's works is his dictionary . The dictionary includes over 30,000 lexical entries with have Swedish
and Latin
explanations. There are also etymological explanations in his book. Although it was not published during his lifetime, it was finally published as a reprint between 1937 and 1940.
Other works
In 1780, Ganander published a thesis about the origin, way of life and language of the Romany. His national and scholarly interests applied to education in the late 18th century. Ganader published two of the first Finnish-language medical books ("The Home Pharmacy for the Country Man") and ("A Book of Animal Diseases"). There were many editions of these works still being used in the 19th century.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
compiler of folk culture
Folk culture
Folk culture refers to the lifestyle of a culture. Historically, handed down through oral tradition, it demonstrates the "old ways" over novelty and relates to a sense of community. Folk culture is quite often imbued with a sense of place...
, a 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 a 18th century lexicographer. Ganander's greatest achievement was the compilation of the first fully extensive Finnish-language
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...
dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
which was, however, unpublished. He was also a collector of folk culture well before Elias Lönnrot
Elias Lönnrot
Elias Lönnrot was a Finnish philologist and collector of traditional Finnish oral poetry. He is best known for compiling the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic compiled from national folklore.-Education and early life:...
. His most well-known published work is Mythologia Fennica
Mythologia Fennica
Mythologia Fennica is a book written by Cristfried Ganander. The book contains extensive explanations regarding Finnish mythology and is often seen as a dictionary. The book was published in 1789, and it contains a total of 430 entries. The book features a number of folk poetry and stories...
in 1789, a reference book of folk religion
Folk religion
Folk religion consists of ethnic or regional religious customs under the umbrella of an organized religion, but outside of official doctrine and practices...
. He also published some poetry and worked as a teacher.
Ganander was born in Haapajärvi
Haapajärvi
Haapajärvi is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
in 1741 to chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
Thomas Ganader and his wife Helena Hiden. After his father's death in 1752, he was taken in by his grandfather Henrik Hiden, who was also a chaplain in the vicarage of Kauhajoki
Kauhajoki
Kauhajoki is a town and municipality of Finland. The city is unilingually Finnish.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The population of Kauhajoki is and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water...
. Ganander himelf later worked as a chaplain in Rantsila
Rantsila
Rantsila is a former municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 2,001 and covered a land area of . The population density was...
from 1775 to 1790.
Ganander became a priest at the Academy of Turku and was consecrated to a post in 1763. He completed his Master's degree in 1766. While studying, he became influenced by the natural sciences and became interested in the notion of Finnishness of Henrik Gabriel Porthan
Henrik Gabriel Porthan
Henrik Gabriel Porthan was a scholar sometimes known as The Father of Finnish History. He was a student of Daniel Juslenius and a Fennophile. He brought Finnish history-writing, study of mythology and folk poetry, and other humanistic sciences to an international level...
. He began his literary career by publishing a collection of riddles and fairy tales. His collection was published in 1783 and comprises 337 riddles. It is based on the folk poetry he had collected as well as the Finnish lexicon
Lexicon
In linguistics, the lexicon of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions. A lexicon is also a synonym of the word thesaurus. More formally, it is a language's inventory of lexemes. Coined in English 1603, the word "lexicon" derives from the Greek "λεξικόν" , neut...
.
In 1789, was published as a reference book of folk poetry, spells, traditions, and literary sources. The book was also a presentation of the early history of the Finnish people. A reprint
Reprint
A reprint is a re-publishing of material that has already been previously published. The word reprint is used in many fields.-Academic publishing:...
ed version was printed in 1961. Elias Lönnrot considered it to be a notable work. Lönnrot later continued from Ganader's starting point.
Nytt Finskt Lexicon
The most notable of Ganader's works is his dictionary . The dictionary includes over 30,000 lexical entries with have Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
explanations. There are also etymological explanations in his book. Although it was not published during his lifetime, it was finally published as a reprint between 1937 and 1940.
Other works
In 1780, Ganander published a thesis about the origin, way of life and language of the Romany. His national and scholarly interests applied to education in the late 18th century. Ganader published two of the first Finnish-language medical books ("The Home Pharmacy for the Country Man") and ("A Book of Animal Diseases"). There were many editions of these works still being used in the 19th century.
External links
- Yle, Suuret suomalaiset artikkeli
- Virtuaaliyliopiston artikkeli, jossa lähdeviitteitä ja luettelo Gananderin julkaisuista
- Rantsilan sivuilla Ganander
- Arviointi kirjasta: Nytt Finskt Lexicon hakemistoineen
- K. Ganander: Maan-Miehen Huone- ja Koti-Aptheeki (kirja www-muodossa).
- Suomalaisia myyttisiä olentoja Mythologia Fennicasta
- Oulun kaupunginkirjaston Pakkala-kirjailijahakemisto