Otto Jespersen

Jens Otto Harry Jespersen (Known as "Jespersen")

Linguist, Phonetician, Professor of English at Copenhagen, Creator of Novial

Born 1860-07-16

Randers, Jutland, Kingdom of Denmark

Passed Away 1943-04-30 Roskilde, Denmark

Lifespan 82 years old

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"Language is not an abstract static museum; it is human activity and living breath."

Archival Overview

Eminent linguist and phonetician whose monumental seven-volume 'Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles' and 'Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin' revolutionized modern English linguistics.

Biographical Record

Jens Otto Harry Jespersen was born in Randers on July 16, 1860. Appointed Professor of English at the University of Copenhagen in 1893, Jespersen revolutionized modern language pedagogy by advocating the direct conversational method rather than dead grammatical translation.

His monumental works, including Growth and Structure of the English Language (1905) and The Philosophy of Grammar (1924), illuminated the organic evolution of language. In 1928, he designed the international auxiliary language Novial, championing international communication and pacifism.

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Rest in Peace Forever remembered and cherished Your legacy lives on in all of us With deep gratitude for your life and light

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Assistens Cemetery (Assistens Kirkegård)
Copenhagen, Denmark

                         GPS: 55.6900, 12.5490                    

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