Hans Conon von der Gabelentz
Encyclopedia
Hans Conon von der Gabelentz (13 October 1807–3 September 1874) was a German
linguistic researcher and authority on the Manchu language
. He was prime minister of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg
from 1848 to 1849.
, Hans Conon von der Gabelentz studied finance, law and oriental languages at Leipzig University and the University of Göttingen. He entered the civil service in Saxe-Altenburg
in 1830 and was promoted to parliamentary and government councillor in 1831. As the Landmarschall (Country Marshal) in the Grand Duchy of Weimar
since 1847, he was present at the preliminary parliament for Frankfurt
and then became one of the 17 intermediary agents for the Saxon Duchies.
Later, he was interim parliamentary envoy until the dissolution of the parliament in July 1848. In the end of November, 1848, he was named Prime Minister of the Duchy of Altenburg
and resigned in August 1849. In 1850, he went to the parliament in Erfurt
as a member of the Staatenhaus. In 1851, the Landschaft of Saxe-Altenburg elected him President. Gabelentz died on 3 September 1874 at his family home at Lemnitz
, near Triptis
. His son Georg von der Gabelentz also became a famous sinologist.
and then published (together with Julius Loebe) a new critical edition of Ulfilas
' Gothic translation of the Bible, together with grammar, a Greek-Gothic dictionary and a Latin translation (Leipzig 1843, two volumes).
He later devoted himself to the Finnish language family
, as Germany was working on rational principles for the German language
at that time. He published a Mordvin
grammar in Vol. 2 of his Journal, Vergleichung der beiden tscheremissischen Dialekte (Comparison of the Two Mari
Dialects) in Vol. 4, and Grundzüge der syrjänischen Grammatik (Essentials of Permic
Grammar) soon afterwards (Altenburg 1841).
His work covered nearly new linguistic territory for Germany, with his Kurze Grammatik der tscherokesischen Sprache (Short Grammar of the Cherokee
Language) in Höfer's Zeitschrift für die Wissenschaft der Sprache (Journal for the Science of Language) (Vol. 3), Beiträge zur Sprachenkunde (Articles on Linguistics), the first three issues of which (Leipzig 1852) contained grammars of the Dayak
, Dakota
and Kiriri
languages, as well as his Grammatik mit Wörterbuch der Kassiasprache (Grammar with Dictionary of the Khasi Language) (Leipzig 1857).
Furthermore, the Abhandlungen (Transactions) of the Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften (Society of Sciences) in Leipzig (1860) contained: Die melanesischen Sprachen nach ihrem grammatischen Bau etc. (The Melanesian Languages According to their Grammatical Structure, etc.), followed by the second part in 1873, and Über das Passivum (About Passive Voice) (Leipzig 1860). Finally, he published the Manchu
translation of the Chinese
work: Sse-schu, Schu-king, Schi-king, with a Manchu-German lexicon (Leipzig 1864).
The Mitteilungen (Communications) of the Geschichts- und Altertumsforschenden Gesellschaft des Osterlandes (Society for Historical and Archeological Research of the Eastern Lands) contained many valuable articles by him on knowledge of the history of his closer homeland. After his death, Geschichte des großen Liao, aus dem Mandschu übersetzt (History of the Great Liao, Translated from Manchu) (St. Petersburg 1877) appeared. The number of languages which Gabelentz more-or-less thoroughly researched—and which he was the first to have scientifically worked on—numbers over 80. He was a full member of the Academy of Sciences in Leipzig.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
linguistic researcher and authority on the Manchu language
Manchu language
Manchu is a Tungusic endangered language spoken in Northeast China; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 70 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus...
. He was prime minister of the Grand Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia.-History:The duchy originated from the medieval Burgraviate of Altenburg in the Imperial Pleissnerland , a possession of the Wettin Margraves of Meissen since 1243...
from 1848 to 1849.
Life
Born at AltenburgAltenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
, Hans Conon von der Gabelentz studied finance, law and oriental languages at Leipzig University and the University of Göttingen. He entered the civil service in Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia.-History:The duchy originated from the medieval Burgraviate of Altenburg in the Imperial Pleissnerland , a possession of the Wettin Margraves of Meissen since 1243...
in 1830 and was promoted to parliamentary and government councillor in 1831. As the Landmarschall (Country Marshal) in the Grand Duchy of Weimar
Saxe-Weimar
Saxe-Weimar was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia. The chief town and capital was Weimar.-Division of Leipzig:...
since 1847, he was present at the preliminary parliament for Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
and then became one of the 17 intermediary agents for the Saxon Duchies.
Later, he was interim parliamentary envoy until the dissolution of the parliament in July 1848. In the end of November, 1848, he was named Prime Minister of the Duchy of Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg
Saxe-Altenburg was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine branch of the Wettin dynasty in present-day Thuringia.-History:The duchy originated from the medieval Burgraviate of Altenburg in the Imperial Pleissnerland , a possession of the Wettin Margraves of Meissen since 1243...
and resigned in August 1849. In 1850, he went to the parliament in Erfurt
Erfurt
Erfurt is the capital city of Thuringia and the main city nearest to the geographical centre of Germany, located 100 km SW of Leipzig, 150 km N of Nuremberg and 180 km SE of Hannover. Erfurt Airport can be reached by plane via Munich. It lies in the southern part of the Thuringian...
as a member of the Staatenhaus. In 1851, the Landschaft of Saxe-Altenburg elected him President. Gabelentz died on 3 September 1874 at his family home at Lemnitz
Lemnitz
Lemnitz is a municipality in Saale-Orla-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany, on the brink of the Thuringian Forest.-Notable people:*Albert Abicht -politician...
, near Triptis
Triptis
Triptis is a town in the Saale-Orla-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 22 km southwest of Gera....
. His son Georg von der Gabelentz also became a famous sinologist.
Work
The fruits of his many years of study are his Eléments de la grammaire mandchoue (Altenburg 1833). In the Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes (Journal for Oriental Study), which he co-founded. He provided essays about MongolianMongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
and then published (together with Julius Loebe) a new critical edition of Ulfilas
Ulfilas
Ulfilas, or Gothic Wulfila , bishop, missionary, and Bible translator, was a Goth or half-Goth and half-Greek from Cappadocia who had spent time inside the Roman Empire at the peak of the Arian controversy. Ulfilas was ordained a bishop by Eusebius of Nicomedia and returned to his people to work...
' Gothic translation of the Bible, together with grammar, a Greek-Gothic dictionary and a Latin translation (Leipzig 1843, two volumes).
He later devoted himself to the Finnish language family
Finnic languages
The term Finnic languages often means the Baltic-Finnic languages, an undisputed branch of the Uralic languages. However, it is also commonly used to mean the Finno-Permic languages, a hypothetical intermediate branch that includes Baltic Finnic, or the more disputed Finno-Volgaic languages....
, as Germany was working on rational principles for the German language
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 that time. He published a Mordvin
Mordvinic languages
The Mordvinic languages, alternatively Mordvin languages, or Mordvinian languages, are a subgroup of the Uralic languages, comprising the closely related Erzya language and Moksha language.Previously considered a single "Mordvin language",...
grammar in Vol. 2 of his Journal, Vergleichung der beiden tscheremissischen Dialekte (Comparison of the Two Mari
Mari language
The Mari language , spoken by more than 600,000 people, belongs to the Uralic language family. It is spoken primarily in the Mari Republic of the Russian Federation as well as in the area along the Vyatka river basin and eastwards to the Urals...
Dialects) in Vol. 4, and Grundzüge der syrjänischen Grammatik (Essentials of Permic
Permic languages
Permic languages are a branch of the Uralic language family. They are spoken in the foothills of the Ural Mountains of Russia.* Komi** Komi-Permyak** Komi-Yodzyak ** Komi-Zyryan...
Grammar) soon afterwards (Altenburg 1841).
His work covered nearly new linguistic territory for Germany, with his Kurze Grammatik der tscherokesischen Sprache (Short Grammar of the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
Language) in Höfer's Zeitschrift für die Wissenschaft der Sprache (Journal for the Science of Language) (Vol. 3), Beiträge zur Sprachenkunde (Articles on Linguistics), the first three issues of which (Leipzig 1852) contained grammars of the Dayak
Dayak languages
The term Dayak is used for the languages of the Dayak people; that is, those languages of Borneo apart from varieties of Malay and language of Chinese, Indian, and European origin...
, Dakota
Dakota language
Dakota is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people of the Sioux tribes. Dakota is closely related to and mutually intelligible with the Lakota language.-Dialects:...
and Kiriri
Kiriri
Kiriri is a settlement in Kenya's Central Province....
languages, as well as his Grammatik mit Wörterbuch der Kassiasprache (Grammar with Dictionary of the Khasi Language) (Leipzig 1857).
Furthermore, the Abhandlungen (Transactions) of the Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften (Society of Sciences) in Leipzig (1860) contained: Die melanesischen Sprachen nach ihrem grammatischen Bau etc. (The Melanesian Languages According to their Grammatical Structure, etc.), followed by the second part in 1873, and Über das Passivum (About Passive Voice) (Leipzig 1860). Finally, he published the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
translation of the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
work: Sse-schu, Schu-king, Schi-king, with a Manchu-German lexicon (Leipzig 1864).
The Mitteilungen (Communications) of the Geschichts- und Altertumsforschenden Gesellschaft des Osterlandes (Society for Historical and Archeological Research of the Eastern Lands) contained many valuable articles by him on knowledge of the history of his closer homeland. After his death, Geschichte des großen Liao, aus dem Mandschu übersetzt (History of the Great Liao, Translated from Manchu) (St. Petersburg 1877) appeared. The number of languages which Gabelentz more-or-less thoroughly researched—and which he was the first to have scientifically worked on—numbers over 80. He was a full member of the Academy of Sciences in Leipzig.
Selected literature
- Hartmut Walravens und Martin Gimm (eds.): Deutsch-mandjurisches Wörterverzeichnis (nach H. C. von der Gabelentz' Mandschu-Deutschem Wörterbuch). Wiesbaden: Steiner, 1978. ISBN 3-515-02641-X in German
- Klaus Jena: Der Sprachforscher Hans Conon von der Gabelentz (1807 - 1874). Eine Reflexion von Olaf Wegewitz anläßlich der Ausstellung im Lindenau-MuseumLindenau-MuseumThe Lindenau-Museum is an art museum in Altenburg, Thuringia, Germany.The museum originated as the house-museum of baron and collector Bernhard August von Lindenau. The building was completed in 1876....
Altenburg "Der Sprachforscher Hans Conon von der Gabelentz (1807 - 1874)". Altenburg: Lindenau-Museum 1998. ISBN 3-86104-033-6 in German - Martin Gimm: Hans Conon von der Gabelentz und die Übersetzung des chinesischen Romans Jin Ping Mei. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2005. ISBN 3-447-05235-X in German