Esperanto lexicographers
Encyclopedia
Esperanto lexicographers are individuals or groups, whether enthusiastic amateurs or trained linguists, who have produced single-language or bilingual dictionaries of Esperanto.
More than 130 Esperantist
s, working singly or collectively, have published such dictionaries; several of these authors are listed in the "Esperanto lexicographers" category.
In the specific case of Esperanto, most dictionary authors historically were and today still are non-specialists in the field of lexicography
. A notable exception is Erich-Dieter Krause, a German professor of the Indonesian language, who wrote comprehensive dictionaries, both German–Esperanto
(2007) and Esperanto-German (1999).
Though most Esperanto dictionary compilers have been men, notable female Esperanto lexicographers include Adriana J. Middelkoop, who wrote Dutch–Esperanto
and Esperanto–Dutch dictionaries (1971) and Ilona Koutny, chief editor of a Hungarian–Esperanto
dictionary, 1996).
Because compiling a dictionary demands great linguistic expertise and may be the labour of many years, most dictionary writers were only able to accomplish the feat in their elder years; however, the Austria
n Eugen Wüster
wrote the core of his encyclopedic Esperanto–German dictionary, published in 1923, as an early-20s university student. The German Eckhard Bick
, having emigrated to Denmark, published his Danish
dictionary at 32.
The professions of Esperanto lexicographers vary widely; one may find teachers (Atanas D. Atanasov, Paul Bennemann, Émile Grosjean-Maupin, Boris Kolker
, etc.), theologians like Jan Filip, literary professionals such as Gaston Waringhien
, translators (Fernando de Diego) or journalists (Joseph Rhodes), but also many technicians and engineers (Rüdiger Eichholz
, Ottó Haszpra, etc.) Both André Albault and L.L. Zamenhof were ophthalmologist
s, while Montagu C. Butler
was a musician.
Sometimes, too, a collective has compiled a dictionary. An example is the editorial committee of the Japanese Esperanto Institute, under the guidance of Konisi Gaku and Gotoo Hitosi. Founded in 1990, the committee eventually published its Esperanto–Japanese
dictionary in 2006.
More than 130 Esperantist
Esperantist
An Esperantist is a person who speaks or uses Esperanto. Etymologically, an Esperantist is someone who hopes...
s, working singly or collectively, have published such dictionaries; several of these authors are listed in the "Esperanto lexicographers" category.
In the specific case of Esperanto, most dictionary authors historically were and today still are non-specialists in the field of lexicography
Lexicography
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines:*Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries....
. A notable exception is Erich-Dieter Krause, a German professor of the Indonesian language, who wrote comprehensive dictionaries, both German–Esperanto
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....
(2007) and Esperanto-German (1999).
Though most Esperanto dictionary compilers have been men, notable female Esperanto lexicographers include Adriana J. Middelkoop, who wrote Dutch–Esperanto
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...
and Esperanto–Dutch dictionaries (1971) and Ilona Koutny, chief editor of a Hungarian–Esperanto
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....
dictionary, 1996).
Because compiling a dictionary demands great linguistic expertise and may be the labour of many years, most dictionary writers were only able to accomplish the feat in their elder years; however, the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Eugen Wüster
Eugen Wüster
Eugen Wüster was an industrialist and terminologist.- Career :Wüster became enthusiastic about Esperanto when he was 15, soon coming to the fore as an Esperanto translator...
wrote the core of his encyclopedic Esperanto–German dictionary, published in 1923, as an early-20s university student. The German Eckhard Bick
Eckhard Bick
Eckhard Bick is a German-born Esperantist who studied medicine in Bonn but now works as a researcher in computational linguistics. He was active in an Esperanto youth group in Bonn and in the Germana Esperanto-Junularo, a nationwide Esperanto youth federation...
, having emigrated to Denmark, published his Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
dictionary at 32.
The professions of Esperanto lexicographers vary widely; one may find teachers (Atanas D. Atanasov, Paul Bennemann, Émile Grosjean-Maupin, Boris Kolker
Boris Kolker
Boris Grigorevich Kolker is a language teacher, translator and advocate of the international language Esperanto. He was until 1993 a Soviet and Russian citizen and since then has been a resident and citizen of the United States residing in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1985 he was awarded a Ph.D...
, etc.), theologians like Jan Filip, literary professionals such as Gaston Waringhien
Gaston Waringhien
Gaston Waringhein was a French linguist, lexicographer, and Esperantist. He wrote poems as well as essays and books on linguistics...
, translators (Fernando de Diego) or journalists (Joseph Rhodes), but also many technicians and engineers (Rüdiger Eichholz
Rüdiger Eichholz
Rüdiger Eichholz , was a Canadian physicist and Esperantist and a member of the Esperanto Academy...
, Ottó Haszpra, etc.) Both André Albault and L.L. Zamenhof were ophthalmologist
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
s, while Montagu C. Butler
Montagu C. Butler
Montagu Christie Butler, was a British academic, librarian and musician. A winner of several prizes at the Royal Academy of Music in London, he was a harpist and a versatile music teacher skilled in playing various musical instruments, as well as a teacher of voice and of musical composition.He...
was a musician.
Sometimes, too, a collective has compiled a dictionary. An example is the editorial committee of the Japanese Esperanto Institute, under the guidance of Konisi Gaku and Gotoo Hitosi. Founded in 1990, the committee eventually published its Esperanto–Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
dictionary in 2006.