R. H. Robins
Encyclopedia
Professor Robert H. Robins (1 July 1921—20 April 2000), affectionately known to his close ones as Bobby Robins, was a British
linguist. Before his retirement, he spent his entire career at the Department of Phonetics and Linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies
of the University of London
.
Robin's work in linguistics covered several diverse areas, including Firthian prosodic analysis, endangered languages and the history of linguistic thought. He wrote two popular textbooks, General Linguistics: An Introductory Survey (1964) and A Short History of Linguistics (1967).
, Kent
on 1 July 1921. His father was a medical practitioner.
, Latin
and ancient Greek
. He won a scholarship to Tonbridge School
in 1935 and a scholarship for Classics
to New College, Oxford
, in 1940. He completed his university studies in 1948 with first class honours in Literae Humaniores (both Mods and Greats). During the second world war, a stint where he taught Japanese
to Royal Air Force
servicemen attracted him to the field of linguistics
. Robins later obtained a DLit degree from London University in 1968.
from 1942 to 1945 as language instructor. After completing his university studies Robins was appointed to a Lectureship (1948-1955) in the Department of Phonetics and Linguistics in the School of Oriental and African Studies
at London University. John Rupert Firth was the Head of Department at the time and was a major influence on Robins. Under Firth's directions, Robins carried out field work in the early 1950s on the now-extinct Yurok language
of northern California
and also did work on ancient linguistics. Robins later became Reader in General Linguistics (1955-1965), Professor of General Linguistics (1966-1986) and ultimately Head of Department (1970-1985) at the same institution. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts (1984-86) of London University. He was elected to fellowship of the British Academy
in 1986.
Robins was a research fellow at the University of California in 1951. He was Visiting Professor in Washington (1963), Hawaii (1968), Minnesota (1971), Florida (1975) and Salzburg (1977 and 1979). He was also a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow (1990-1991).
. He wrote books on the subject and regularly attended conferences of the various national societies for the subject. He was Emeritus Professor (1986-2001) at London University. He taught at both University of Luton and University of Cambridge
until the early months of 2000.
from 1981 until his death.
Perhaps Robins's most important fellowship was that of Philological Society
, the oldest linguistics society in existence. Robins was its Secretary for 18 years (1961-1988) and later became its President (1988-1992). After his presidency ended, the Society conferred on him the title of President Emeritus uniquely in his honor. After Robins's death, the Society created a Prize in his name, the R. H. Robins Prize, "for an article submission on a linguistic topic that falls within the area of the Society’s interests as defined by present and past publications in the Transactions of the Philological Society."
The linguistics field as a whole have honored him with two Festschriften
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
linguist. Before his retirement, he spent his entire career at the Department of Phonetics and Linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
Robin's work in linguistics covered several diverse areas, including Firthian prosodic analysis, endangered languages and the history of linguistic thought. He wrote two popular textbooks, General Linguistics: An Introductory Survey (1964) and A Short History of Linguistics (1967).
Birth
Robins was born in BroadstairsBroadstairs
Broadstairs is a coastal town on the Isle of Thanet in the Thanet district of east Kent, England, about south-east of London. It is part of the civil parish of Broadstairs and St Peter's, which includes St. Peter's and had a population in 2001 of about 24,000. Situated between Margate and...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 1 July 1921. His father was a medical practitioner.
Education
In his childhood, Robins studied FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
. He won a scholarship to Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
in 1935 and a scholarship for Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
to New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, in 1940. He completed his university studies in 1948 with first class honours in Literae Humaniores (both Mods and Greats). During the second world war, a stint where he taught 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...
to Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
servicemen attracted him to the field of linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
. Robins later obtained a DLit degree from London University in 1968.
Career
Robins served in the RAF IntelligenceRAF Intelligence
Intelligence services in the Royal Air Force is delivered by Officers of the Royal Air Force Operations Support Intelligence Branch and Airmen from the Intelligence Analyst Trade and Intelligence Analyst Trade...
from 1942 to 1945 as language instructor. After completing his university studies Robins was appointed to a Lectureship (1948-1955) in the Department of Phonetics and Linguistics in the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
at London University. John Rupert Firth was the Head of Department at the time and was a major influence on Robins. Under Firth's directions, Robins carried out field work in the early 1950s on the now-extinct Yurok language
Yurok language
Yurok is a moribund Algic language. It is the traditional language of the Yurok tribe of Del Norte County and Humboldt County on the far North Coast of California, U.S., most of whom now speak English...
of northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and also did work on ancient linguistics. Robins later became Reader in General Linguistics (1955-1965), Professor of General Linguistics (1966-1986) and ultimately Head of Department (1970-1985) at the same institution. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts (1984-86) of London University. He was elected to fellowship of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 1986.
Robins was a research fellow at the University of California in 1951. He was Visiting Professor in Washington (1963), Hawaii (1968), Minnesota (1971), Florida (1975) and Salzburg (1977 and 1979). He was also a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow (1990-1991).
Post-retirement activities
After retirement, Robins dedicated himself to promoting the history of linguisticsHistory of linguistics
Linguistics as a study endeavors to describe and explain the human faculty of language.In ancient civilization, linguistic study was originally motivated by the correct description of classical liturgical language, notably that of Sanskrit grammar by , or by the development of logic and rhetoric...
. He wrote books on the subject and regularly attended conferences of the various national societies for the subject. He was Emeritus Professor (1986-2001) at London University. He taught at both University of Luton and University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
until the early months of 2000.
Affiliations
Robins was President of Societas Linguistica Europaea in 1974. He was British Representative (1970-1977) and one-time President of the International Committee of Linguists (1977-1997). He was Chairman of the Henry Sweet Society for the History of Linguistic Ideas at the time of his death. He was also an honorary member of Linguistic Society of AmericaLinguistic Society of America
The Linguistic Society of America is a professional society for linguists. It was founded in 1924 to advance linguistics, the scientific study of human language. The LSA has over 5,000 individual members and welcomes linguists of all kinds. It works to advance the discipline and to communicate...
from 1981 until his death.
Perhaps Robins's most important fellowship was that of Philological Society
Philological Society
The Philological Society, or London Philological Society, is the oldest learned society in Great Britain dedicated to the study of language. The society was established in 1842 to "investigate and promote the study and knowledge of the structure, the affinities, and the history of languages"...
, the oldest linguistics society in existence. Robins was its Secretary for 18 years (1961-1988) and later became its President (1988-1992). After his presidency ended, the Society conferred on him the title of President Emeritus uniquely in his honor. After Robins's death, the Society created a Prize in his name, the R. H. Robins Prize, "for an article submission on a linguistic topic that falls within the area of the Society’s interests as defined by present and past publications in the Transactions of the Philological Society."
The linguistics field as a whole have honored him with two Festschriften
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
.
Selected works
- Ancient and Medieval Grammatical Theory in Europe (1951)
- The Yurok Language (1958)
- General Linguistics: An Introductory Survey (1964)
- A Short History of Linguistics (1967)
- Diversions of Bloomsbury (1970)
- Ideen- und Problemgeschichte der Sprachwissenschaft (1973)
- Sistem dan Struktur Bahasa Sunda (1983)
- The Byzantine Grammarians: Their Place in History (1993)
- Texts and Contexts: Selected Papers on the History of Linguistics (1998)
Further reading
- Vivien Law. "The writings of RH Robins: a bibliography 1951-1996", in Linguists and Their Diversions: A Festschrift for R. H. Robins on his 75th Birthday. pp. 27-42. Vivien Law & Werner Hüllen (eds.) Münster: Nodus, 1996.
- Linguists and Their Diversions: A Festschrift for R. H. Robins on his 75th Birthday. Vivien Law & Werner Hüllen (eds.) Münster: Nodus, 1996.
- Studies in the history of linguistic science: a festschrift for R. H. Robins. F. R. Palmer and Theodora Bynon (eds.) Cambridge University Press, 1986.
- E. K. Brown and Vivien Law. "R H Robins", in Linguistics in Britain: personal histories. 2002.