Eugen Dieth
Encyclopedia
Eugen Dieth was a Swiss linguist, phonetician and dialectologist. He is well-known for his work in English and German phonetics
, and for co-initiating the Survey of English Dialects
.
and German
at the University of Zurich
and the University of Geneva
. He got his PhD in 1919 with a dissertation on Middle English
syntax
. Between 1922 and 1927 he was lecturer in German in Aberdeen
. In 1927 he became Professor extraordinarius
and in 1947 Professor ordinarius
for English, Old Norse
and General Phonetics
at the University of Zurich. He founded the Phonetics Laboratory of the University of Zurich in 1935. Between 1927 and 1936 he worked as a part-time editor for the Schweizerdeutsches Wörterbuch and between 1934 and and his unexpected death from a stroke
in 1956 he was the director of the Phonogram Archives of the University of Zurich. He got married to Hilde Martha Bachmann, the daughter of the Swiss professor of German Philology at the University of Zurich, Albert Bachmann
, in 1951.
in 1938, entitled Schwyzertütschi Dialäktschrift (= Swiss German Dialect Orthography). His system of spelling Swiss German is commonly referred to as Dieth-Schreibung. It postulates that the vernacular spelling ought to reflect the phonological characteristics and individuality of the various Swiss dialects. It can therefore be characterized as a system of phonetic transcription
meant to be used by lay people. In its less strict form, it tries to limit itself to the usage of the letters and diacrtics that are available on a simple typing machine.
In 1950 he published his Vademekum der Phonetik, a textbook classic in German-speaking phonetics.
As professor of English, he was also very active in the field of dialectology in Britain. His description of the dialect of Buchan
was an important contribution to Scottish dialectology. More importantly, however, he initiated the work for the Survey of English Dialects
and compiled -- together with Harold Orton
-- the Questionnaire for a Linguistic Atlas of England.
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
, and for co-initiating the Survey of English Dialects
Survey of English Dialects
The Survey of English Dialects was undertaken between 1950 and 1961 under the direction of Professor Harold Orton of the English department of the University of Leeds. It aimed to collect the full range of speech in England and Wales before local differences were to disappear...
.
Biography
Eugen Dieth studied General Linguistics, EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 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....
at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
and the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
. He got his PhD in 1919 with a dissertation on Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
. Between 1922 and 1927 he was lecturer in German in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. In 1927 he became Professor extraordinarius
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and in 1947 Professor ordinarius
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
for English, Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
and General Phonetics
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
at the University of Zurich. He founded the Phonetics Laboratory of the University of Zurich in 1935. Between 1927 and 1936 he worked as a part-time editor for the Schweizerdeutsches Wörterbuch and between 1934 and and his unexpected death from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1956 he was the director of the Phonogram Archives of the University of Zurich. He got married to Hilde Martha Bachmann, the daughter of the Swiss professor of German Philology at the University of Zurich, Albert Bachmann
Albert Bachmann
Albert "Bert" Bachmann was a Swiss military intelligence officer.Bachmann worked as a printer after leaving school. As a young man he flirted with communism, joining the youth wing of the PdA. Following the 1948 Communist seizure of power in Czechslovakia, he changed course and became strongly...
, in 1951.
Achievements
Eugen Dieth published an orthographic handbook for Swiss GermanSwiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
in 1938, entitled Schwyzertütschi Dialäktschrift (= Swiss German Dialect Orthography). His system of spelling Swiss German is commonly referred to as Dieth-Schreibung. It postulates that the vernacular spelling ought to reflect the phonological characteristics and individuality of the various Swiss dialects. It can therefore be characterized as a system of phonetic transcription
Phonetic transcription
Phonetic transcription is the visual representation of speech sounds . The most common type of phonetic transcription uses a phonetic alphabet, e.g., the International Phonetic Alphabet....
meant to be used by lay people. In its less strict form, it tries to limit itself to the usage of the letters and diacrtics that are available on a simple typing machine.
In 1950 he published his Vademekum der Phonetik, a textbook classic in German-speaking phonetics.
As professor of English, he was also very active in the field of dialectology in Britain. His description of the dialect of Buchan
Buchan
Buchan is one of the six committee areas and administrative areas of Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland. These areas were created by the council in 1996, when the Aberdeenshire unitary council area was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994...
was an important contribution to Scottish dialectology. More importantly, however, he initiated the work for the Survey of English Dialects
Survey of English Dialects
The Survey of English Dialects was undertaken between 1950 and 1961 under the direction of Professor Harold Orton of the English department of the University of Leeds. It aimed to collect the full range of speech in England and Wales before local differences were to disappear...
and compiled -- together with Harold Orton
Harold Orton
Harold Orton was an English university lecturer and dialectologist, best remembered as co-founder of the Survey of English Dialects . Orton developed the questionnaire for the survey together with Eugen Dieth...
-- the Questionnaire for a Linguistic Atlas of England.