Josef Jungmann
Encyclopedia
Josef Jungmann was a Bohemia
n poet and linguist, and a leading figure of the Czech National Revival
. Together with Josef Dobrovský
, he is considered to be a creator of the modern Czech language
.
(Leitmeritz), which had a German majority at that time. In 1815, he moved to Prague, where he worked until 1845 in Old Town Academic Grammar School as a teacher of Czech. He earned a doctorate in Philosophy and Mathematics in 1817; he was a dean of the Faculty of Arts in 1827 and 1838. In 1840, he became a rector
of the Charles University of Prague
.
, he also wrote his works in Czech. In 1805, he published a translation of Chateaubriand
's "Atala". By this, he intended to prove, that the Czech language is suitable for complicated artistic texts. Later, he published translations of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller
and John Milton
. Jungmann’s original poems are few, but include two early Revival sonnets and the short narrative poem Oldřich a Božena.
In following years, he published a series of polemic texts, most notably the "Talks on Czech Language". In 1820, he published "Slovesnost", which was a kind of a stylistic textbook. In 1825, a "History of Czech literature" followed.
His most important work is the Czech-German dictionary in five volumes (1834-39). In this dictionary, he laid out the basis for the modern Czech vocabulary. In order to achieve the stylistic range of vocabulary he desired, for poetic effect, and in order to expand the lexical resources of Czech, Jungmann revived archaic words, for which he studied historical documents, or borrowed from other Slavic languages, and created neologisms. Many of his words became a permanent part of the language.
Jungmannova Street and Jungmannovo náměstí (Jungmann's Square) in Prague
are named after him; the square contains a large statue of Jungmann.
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
n poet and linguist, and a leading figure of the Czech National Revival
Czech National Revival
Czech National Revival was a cultural movement, which took part in the Czech lands during the 18th and 19th century. The purpose of this movement was to revive Czech language, culture and national identity...
. Together with Josef Dobrovský
Josef Dobrovský
Josef Dobrovský was a Bohemian philologist and historian, one of the most important figures of the Czech national revival.- Life & Work :...
, he is considered to be a creator of the modern Czech language
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
.
Life
Jungmann was the sixth child (out of ten) of a cobbler. In his youth, he wanted to become a priest. After he completed grammar school in 1788-1792 however, he went on to study Philosophy and Law. Beginning in 1799, he started teaching at a high school ("Gymnasium") in LitoměřiceLitomerice
Litoměřice is a town at the junction of the rivers Elbe and Ohře in the north part of the Czech Republic, approximately 64 km northwest of Prague....
(Leitmeritz), which had a German majority at that time. In 1815, he moved to Prague, where he worked until 1845 in Old Town Academic Grammar School as a teacher of Czech. He earned a doctorate in Philosophy and Mathematics in 1817; he was a dean of the Faculty of Arts in 1827 and 1838. In 1840, he became a rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Charles University of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
Work
Jungmann was a rigorous advocate of the rebirth of written Czech language. In contrast to his teacher, Josef DobrovskýJosef Dobrovský
Josef Dobrovský was a Bohemian philologist and historian, one of the most important figures of the Czech national revival.- Life & Work :...
, he also wrote his works in Czech. In 1805, he published a translation of Chateaubriand
François-René de Chateaubriand
François-René, vicomte de Chateaubriand was a French writer, politician, diplomat and historian. He is considered the founder of Romanticism in French literature.-Early life and exile:...
's "Atala". By this, he intended to prove, that the Czech language is suitable for complicated artistic texts. Later, he published translations of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
and John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
. Jungmann’s original poems are few, but include two early Revival sonnets and the short narrative poem Oldřich a Božena.
In following years, he published a series of polemic texts, most notably the "Talks on Czech Language". In 1820, he published "Slovesnost", which was a kind of a stylistic textbook. In 1825, a "History of Czech literature" followed.
His most important work is the Czech-German dictionary in five volumes (1834-39). In this dictionary, he laid out the basis for the modern Czech vocabulary. In order to achieve the stylistic range of vocabulary he desired, for poetic effect, and in order to expand the lexical resources of Czech, Jungmann revived archaic words, for which he studied historical documents, or borrowed from other Slavic languages, and created neologisms. Many of his words became a permanent part of the language.
Jungmannova Street and Jungmannovo náměstí (Jungmann's Square) in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
are named after him; the square contains a large statue of Jungmann.
Literature
- Antibohemia, 1814
- Historie literatury české aneb Soustavný přehled spisů českých, s krátkou historií národu, osvícení a jazyka, 1825
- Krok
- Nepředsudečné mínění o české prozódii, 1804
- O jazyku českém, 1806
- O klasičnosti literatury a důležitosti její
- Oldřich a Božena, 1806
- Rozmlouvání o jazyku českém
- Slovesnost aneb Sbírka příkladů s krátkým pojednáním o slohu, 1820
- Slovník česko-německý, 1834-39 (5 dílů)
- Slovo ke statečnému a blahovzdělanému Bohemariusovi, 1814
- Zápisky, 1871
Biographies
- Emanuel Chalupný: Jungmann, Prag 1909
- Julius Dolanský: Jungmannův odkaz (Z dějin české slovesnosti), Prag 1948