Jacques Legrand (Mongolist)
Encyclopedia
Jacques Legrand is a French
linguist and anthropologist. He specializes in Mongolian literature and history
and the Mongolian language
.
, Ille-et-Vilaine
in western France. From 1967 to 1968 he worked as a translator at the French embassies in Mongolia
and China
. His return to France was followed closely by the establishment of the Mongolian language department at the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
(then Centre Universitaire des Langues Orientales Vivantes) in 1970. He has been Professor of Mongolian Language and Literature there since 1989. He was an independent contractor and lecturer from 1971 to 1977, and a lecturer and senior lecturer from 1977 to 1989.
Jacques Legrand has been president of INALCO since March 2005 for a term of 4 years. This mandate was renewed in March 2009 until March 2013.
From 1981 to 1989, he taught French as a Foreign Language at the University
in Rouen
. From 1986 to 1989, in the same context, he taught the civilization of East Asia at the university, focusing primarily on the cultures and history of Mongolia, China
and Japan
.
Aside from his contributions to understanding Mongol language and literature, Legrand has conducted important research into the history of the Mongols, and anthropology of Mongolian pastoralism. Legrand has studied Mongol life from the dawn of man, noting that the Neolithic
saw the practice of agriculture, fishing and breeding, whilst the Bronze Age
initiated an evolution in the direction of a more and more exclusive pastoralism in the Mongolian plains, creating some marked paradoxes as it evolved. He noted that the nomadic empire
s of the Asian steppes are "based on an essential contradiction", because although deriving from nomadic peoples' need for organization, these peoples did not have the resources to support an actual state.
He has published numerous publications under the auspices of UNESCO
, and the Institute of International Studies and Nomadic Civilizations in Ulaanbaatar
, which he chairs. In total he has made at least 70 publications as of 2009.
He also collaborated on numerous books, both research and popular, and on the film Urga
, by Nikita Mikhalkov
(1991).
On December 20, 2006, he visited Tamkang University
(TKU) to discuss the possibility of academic exchange with French Department of Tamkang University and later visited the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center and Chueh-sheng Memorial Library.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
linguist and anthropologist. He specializes in Mongolian literature and history
History of Mongolia
The area of what is now Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Nirun, the Gökturks, and others. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. After the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty in 1368, the Mongols returned to their earlier patterns...
and the Mongolian language
Mongolian 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...
.
Career
Legrand was born on June 29, 1946 in RennesRennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
, Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
in western France. From 1967 to 1968 he worked as a translator at the French embassies in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and China
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...
. His return to France was followed closely by the establishment of the Mongolian language department at the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
The Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales is located in Paris, France. It was founded in 1795 after the French Revolution and is now one of the country's Grands établissements with a specialization in African, Asian, East European, Oceanian languages and civilisations...
(then Centre Universitaire des Langues Orientales Vivantes) in 1970. He has been Professor of Mongolian Language and Literature there since 1989. He was an independent contractor and lecturer from 1971 to 1977, and a lecturer and senior lecturer from 1977 to 1989.
Jacques Legrand has been president of INALCO since March 2005 for a term of 4 years. This mandate was renewed in March 2009 until March 2013.
From 1981 to 1989, he taught French as a Foreign Language at the University
University of Rouen
The University of Rouen is a French university, in the Academy of Rouen.-See also:* List of public universities in France by academy...
in Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
. From 1986 to 1989, in the same context, he taught the civilization of East Asia at the university, focusing primarily on the cultures and history of Mongolia, China
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...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Aside from his contributions to understanding Mongol language and literature, Legrand has conducted important research into the history of the Mongols, and anthropology of Mongolian pastoralism. Legrand has studied Mongol life from the dawn of man, noting that the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
saw the practice of agriculture, fishing and breeding, whilst the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
initiated an evolution in the direction of a more and more exclusive pastoralism in the Mongolian plains, creating some marked paradoxes as it evolved. He noted that the nomadic empire
Nomadic empire
Nomadic empires, sometimes also called Steppe Empires, Central or Inner Asian Empires, are the empires erected by the bow-wielding, horse-riding, nomadic peoples in the Eurasian steppe, from Classical Antiquity to the Early Modern era .The nomadic or semi-nomadic Cimmerians, Avars, Magyars,...
s of the Asian steppes are "based on an essential contradiction", because although deriving from nomadic peoples' need for organization, these peoples did not have the resources to support an actual state.
He has published numerous publications under the auspices of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, and the Institute of International Studies and Nomadic Civilizations in Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
, which he chairs. In total he has made at least 70 publications as of 2009.
He also collaborated on numerous books, both research and popular, and on the film Urga
Urga (film)
Urga is a 1991 film by Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov. It is released in North America as Close to Eden. It depicts the friendship between a Russian truck driver and a Mongolian shepherd in Inner Mongolia...
, by Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov is a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, actor, and head of the Russian Cinematographers' Union.Mikhalkov was born in Moscow into the distinguished, artistic Mikhalkov family. His great grandfather was the imperial governor of Yaroslavl, whose mother was a Galitzine princess...
(1991).
On December 20, 2006, he visited Tamkang University
Tamkang University
Tamkang University is a private Taiwanese university located in Tamsui District, New Taipei City. Founded in 1950 as a junior college of English literature, the college has expanded into a full university with 11 colleges today....
(TKU) to discuss the possibility of academic exchange with French Department of Tamkang University and later visited the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center and Chueh-sheng Memorial Library.