Eduard Hercigonja
Encyclopedia
Eduard Hercigonja is a Croatian
philologist
, Croatist
and literary historian. University professor and a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
, he authored several fundamental works on medieval Croatian literature and culture.
in 1929. After finishing primary and secondary school in Sisak
, he received a degree in Slavic studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
at the University of Zagreb
. He received his Ph.D. in 1970 with the thesis Jezik glagoljaške neliturgijske književnosti 15. stoljeća i Petrisov zbornik ('Language of the Glagolitic non-liturgical literature and Petris' miscellany'). He was elected as a docent
in 1970, as an associate professor in 1974, becoming a full professor in 1977. Since 1968 he serves as a head of the Chair for Old Church Slavonic
language at the Department for Croatian Studies. Since 1977 he's an associate, and since 1986 full member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
.
In a series of analytical papers he warns of Čakavian-Kajkavian
(and also Old Church Slavonic
) interference in Glagolitic manuscripts as a result of conscious and deliberate effort of medieval writers to expand the area of influence of their works. Some of the papers, as well as discussions on stylemastics, orthography, language, education, socio-economical situation and the potentials of Croatian Glagolites and their treatment in the historical accounts of Croatian literature, have been compiled in a book Nad iskonom hrvatske knjige (1986).
As a researcher he always advocated a theory of the unity of Croatian medieval literature, despite its polyscriptal nature and dialectal diversity. This way he helped to provide a different perspective at the relationship of the Croatian Latinate literature, and that written in Croatian idioms. In the catalog of the exhibition Pisana riječ u Hrvatskoj (Muzejski prostor, Zagreb 1986) he published a study of three-script and three-lingual culture of the Croatian Middle Ages, which served as a basis of the book by the same name. In 1994 Matica hrvatska
published his Tropismena i trojezična kultura hrvatskoga srednjovjekovlja conceived as an account of the most relevant facts from the 9th century Trpimir
's inscription up to the 15th century first printed Croatian book (Missale Romanum Glagolitice
). His 2004 book Na temeljima hrvatske književne kulture: filološko medievističke rasprave, also published by Matica, represents a compilation of author's 50 years of scientific work and study of Croatian literature since the Middle Ages till the 18th century.
For his work he received state awards (1975 and 1983), and the Zagreb City Award (1975). He's an honorary scientific adviser of the University of Osijek
.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
philologist
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
, Croatist
Croatian studies
Croatian studies is an academic discipline within Slavic studies which is concerned with the study of Croatian language, literature, history and culture...
and literary historian. University professor and a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
, he authored several fundamental works on medieval Croatian literature and culture.
Biography
Hercigonja was born in Croatia's capital ZagrebZagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in 1929. After finishing primary and secondary school in Sisak
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
, he received a degree in Slavic studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences or the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb is one of the top faculties of the University of Zagreb.-History:...
at the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
. He received his Ph.D. in 1970 with the thesis Jezik glagoljaške neliturgijske književnosti 15. stoljeća i Petrisov zbornik ('Language of the Glagolitic non-liturgical literature and Petris' miscellany'). He was elected as a docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
in 1970, as an associate professor in 1974, becoming a full professor in 1977. Since 1968 he serves as a head of the Chair for Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic or Old Church Slavic was the first literary Slavic language, first developed by the 9th century Byzantine Greek missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius who were credited with standardizing the language and using it for translating the Bible and other Ancient Greek...
language at the Department for Croatian Studies. Since 1977 he's an associate, and since 1986 full member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
.
Work
Hercoginja's research interest focuses on Croatian Middle Ages. His Srednjovjekovna književnost ('Medieval liteature') in »Liber's« edition Povijest hrvatske književnosti ('The history of Croatian literature'; Volume II, Zagreb 1975), based on extensive textological, linguistic and historical research of Glagolitic heritage, has managed to paint a different picture of medieval Croatian texts as what used to be called a 'precursor of literature' (A. Cronia).In a series of analytical papers he warns of Čakavian-Kajkavian
Kajkavian dialect
The Kajkavian dialect is one of the three main dialects of Croatian. It has low mutual intelligibility with the other two dialects, Štokavian and Čakavian. All three are named after their word for "what?", which in Kajkavian is kaj....
(and also Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic or Old Church Slavic was the first literary Slavic language, first developed by the 9th century Byzantine Greek missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius who were credited with standardizing the language and using it for translating the Bible and other Ancient Greek...
) interference in Glagolitic manuscripts as a result of conscious and deliberate effort of medieval writers to expand the area of influence of their works. Some of the papers, as well as discussions on stylemastics, orthography, language, education, socio-economical situation and the potentials of Croatian Glagolites and their treatment in the historical accounts of Croatian literature, have been compiled in a book Nad iskonom hrvatske knjige (1986).
As a researcher he always advocated a theory of the unity of Croatian medieval literature, despite its polyscriptal nature and dialectal diversity. This way he helped to provide a different perspective at the relationship of the Croatian Latinate literature, and that written in Croatian idioms. In the catalog of the exhibition Pisana riječ u Hrvatskoj (Muzejski prostor, Zagreb 1986) he published a study of three-script and three-lingual culture of the Croatian Middle Ages, which served as a basis of the book by the same name. In 1994 Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska is one of the oldest Croatian cultural institutions, dating back to 1842. The name is somewhat idiosyncratic, best translated as "The Croatian Centre" . It is the largest publisher of Croatian language books...
published his Tropismena i trojezična kultura hrvatskoga srednjovjekovlja conceived as an account of the most relevant facts from the 9th century Trpimir
Trpimir I of Croatia
Trpimir I was a duke of Croatia in 845–864, and the founder of the Croatian House of Trpimirović. Although he was formally vassal of the Frankish Emperor Lothair I, Trpimir used Frankish-Byzantine conflicts to rule on his own.-Reign:...
's inscription up to the 15th century first printed Croatian book (Missale Romanum Glagolitice
Missale Romanum Glagolitice
Missale Romanum Glagolitice is a Croatian language missal printed in 1483. It is written in Glagolitic script and is the first printed Croatian book and one of the first South Slavonic printed books. It is the first missal in Europe not published in Latin script...
). His 2004 book Na temeljima hrvatske književne kulture: filološko medievističke rasprave, also published by Matica, represents a compilation of author's 50 years of scientific work and study of Croatian literature since the Middle Ages till the 18th century.
For his work he received state awards (1975 and 1983), and the Zagreb City Award (1975). He's an honorary scientific adviser of the University of Osijek
University of Osijek
The Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek is a university located in Osijek, Croatia. It was founded in 1975 and is organized in 11 faculties.-History:...
.