LINGUIST

Otto Jespersen

1860 - 1943

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Jens Otto Harry Jespersen (Danish: [ˈʌtsʰo ˈjespɐsn̩]; 16 July 1860 – 30 April 1943) was a Danish linguist who worked in foreign-language pedagogy, historical phonetics, and other areas, but is best known for his description of the grammar of the English language. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Otto Jespersen is the 29th most popular linguist (up from 39th in 2019), the 116th most popular biography from Denmark (up from 143rd in 2019) and the 2nd most popular Danish Linguist.

Otto Jespersen is most famous for his contributions to linguistics. He is credited with being the first to use the term "semantics" in a linguistic sense. He is also credited with being the first to use the term "grammar" in the sense of the study of language.

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Among LINGUISTS

Among linguists, Otto Jespersen ranks 29 out of 214. Before him are Johann Martin Schleyer, Algirdas Julien Greimas, William Jones, Johann Christoph Adelung, Sibawayh, and Michael Halliday. After him are Pompeu Fabra, Nikolai Trubetzkoy, Ignác Goldziher, Bedřich Hrozný, Louis Hjelmslev, and Georg Friedrich Grotefend.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1860, Otto Jespersen ranks 31. Before him are Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, Louis Wain, Ernest Thompson Seton, William Kemmler, Vito Volterra, and Marianne von Werefkin. After him are Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia, Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia, Karl Denke, Gustave Charpentier, Paul Ulrich Villard, and Mercedes of Orléans. Among people deceased in 1943, Otto Jespersen ranks 31. Before him are Max Reinhardt, Julius Fučík, Beatrice Webb, Jean Moulin, Gustav Vigeland, and Etty Hillesum. After him are Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal, Hans Scholl, Mordechai Anielewicz, Aurel Stein, Oskar Schlemmer, and André Antoine.

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In Denmark

Among people born in Denmark, Otto Jespersen ranks 116 out of 1,032. Before him are Absalon (1128), Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Mecklenburg (1524), Johan Christian Fabricius (1745), Maximilian von Spee (1861), Boetius of Dacia (1240), and Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark (1900). After him are Sophia Magdalena of Denmark (1746), Michael Ancher (1849), Princess Louise Auguste of Denmark (1771), Eric II of Denmark (1090), Elizabeth of Denmark, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1573), and Princess Thyra of Denmark (1853).

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Among LINGUISTS In Denmark

Among linguists born in Denmark, Otto Jespersen ranks 2. Before him are Rasmus Rask (1787). After him are Louis Hjelmslev (1899), Vilhelm Thomsen (1842), Holger Pedersen (1867), Hans Ørberg (1920), Johan Nicolai Madvig (1804), and Johan Ludvig Heiberg (1854).

Danish born Linguists

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