Aleksey Shakhmatov

Alexei Alexandrovich Shakhmatov (Russian Алексей Александрович Шахматов, .. * 5 Junijul / June 17 1864greg in Narva, † August 16 1920 in Petrograd ) was a Russian linguist.

Biography

Shakhmatov came from a noble family. From 1884 he studied at the Faculty of Moscow University historico-philological, 1887 he received his doctorate with a thesis " over-length, emphasizing the common Slavic ". In 1890 he was appointed Privatdozent. In 1894 he became a member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences, 1899 a full member of the Academy. In 1910 he became a professor at the University of St. Petersburg.

From 1906 he was a member of the State Council and the Duma, including he participated in the preparation of the spelling reform, which was finally realized in 1917.

Scientific work

Shakhmatov was one of the most important historical linguist of his time. Best known are his work on the Primary Chronicle, but he has made ​​important contributions in other areas, such as in dialectology and syntax.