Georg Sauerwein

Georg Julius Justus Sauerwein ( born January 15, 1831 in Hannover, † December 16, 1904 in Christiania ) was a German journalist, linguist, humanist, pacifist and an advocate of minority languages ​​in the German Empire ( Lower Sorbian, Lithuanian ). Particular effort he was to the Norwegian language. He often published as Girenas or Pacificus.

Curriculum vitae

Sauerwein was born the son of a pastor in Hanover and grew up in Gronau (Leine), as his father in 1841 there took the place of the pastor primarius. At age 17, he graduated from high school and then studied at the University of Göttingen linguistics and theology, but also attended lectures in physics, chemistry and botany. However, after three years, he broke off his studies without degree and spent several years in England and Wales. He discovered his talent for languages ​​and learned in his lifetime and more than 60 languages ​​and dialects.

At age 24, he published an English- Turkish dictionary. From 1857 he was a private tutor of Princess Elizabeth of Wied, who later became Queen of Romania, known as a writer under the pseudonym of Carmen Sylva. To her it is also a multi-year secret love affair is said.

From 1856 to 1896 he worked as a freelancer for the British Bible Society and participated in many Bible translations into different languages ​​and dialects. On 29 May 1873 he finally acquired the age of 42 his Doctor of Philosophy ( Dr. phil. ) And a Master of Arts (MA). Since 1874 Georg Sauerwein stayed repeatedly in Norway, particularly in Dovre, and sat there one for the revival and renewal of the Norwegian language.

In 1879 and 1881, he ran as an MP for the Prussian Landtag and in 1898 for the German Reichstag. On the basis of the former Prussian three-class suffrage his election, however, did not materialize. On December 16, 1904 Georg Sauerwein died in Kristiana, today: Oslo, Norway. He was buried in Gronau (Leine) on the Lehder Cemetery next to his parents. The local archives Gronau is the central Sauerwein archive and beyond with the Gronau junior high school, he was named in his honor. In Gronau, Hanover, Dovre, Klaipeda ( Memel ), Šilutė ( Heydekrug ) and Burg (Spreewald ) are named streets after him.

Fields of activity and publications

Because of the multiplicity of languages ​​and dialects, which he ruled, Georg Sauerwein was considered the greatest linguists of his time.

The avowed pacifist turned committed against imperialism of the Empire, and published, among others, bilingual poems in French on the occasion of Peace Kong Esses in Paris in 1899, where he urged for peace.

Throughout his life he felt himself as a champion of the interests especially of national minorities and the preservation of their own language. His special interests included the Norwegian, the Wendish and Lithuanian. Its also bilingual " Lithuanians Spring Song " ( Lietuvininku pavasario giesmele ) in Lithuania is still very popular today and is there as a second national anthem. Sauerwein published in 1877 and 1885 collections of poetry in Lower Wendish and in the Norwegian language, or " Serbske stucki " ( Wendish verses ) and " peace Viso ifraa Vigguin " ( Free Songs from the Mountains).

As the author of numerous books, poems and articles in which he, on current political issues of his time and country and people commented on problems of the languages ​​of small nations to whom he always sought contact and always entertained deserves Georg Sauerwein special recognition.

Languages

In addition to his political activities is Sauerweins ability to learn languages ​​, be emphasized. According to biographer him 45 awarded to more than 80 languages. By evaluating the languages ​​used in the writings Sauerweins are at least 51 languages ​​assured. Taking into account the mentioned in his diaries and in his correspondence languages ​​can be assumed that at least 75 languages.

For many people, however, the polyglot simultaneous multilingualism his writings is the oral use of languages ​​in the foreground, with Sauerwein remarkable. Sauerwein used, for example, in his first book polyglottem peace Les Livre des Salutations (1888 ) thirty languages ​​. How deep the language skills Sauerweins in the individual languages ​​, were can only be guessed; can be tested only the quality of the active use of language in the scriptures. Here the characteristic style and the grammar of all fonts have to be checked in addition to the literary quality. A detailed or comprehensive examination is not to be found in the literature. The quality of the languages ​​Sauerweins in the form of oral language competence is no longer traceable.

The acquisition of language seemed to have no difficulty Sauerwein, he learned a language often within a few weeks. He preferred the "direct" method, that is, he learned the languages ​​preferred by direct communication with a native speaker.

Quotes

  • " Gaz jaden invited swóju REC A narodnosć zgubjujo, ga ma Won wjeliku škodu na swójom Duchu a swójej Dusy. When a nation loses its language and nationality, it does great harm to the mind and soul. " ( Sorbian )
  • " Serbstwo! Ty sy tak Bogate, a ty samo to njewĕš! How rich are you, my Sorbs people! You do not even know. " ( Sorbian )

Works (selection)

Note: Sauerwein published a substantial part of his writings under the pseudonyms Girėnas and Pacificus

  • A Pocket Dictionary of the English and Turkish Languages ​​. Williams & Norgate, London 1855
  • Serbske stucki. Monse, Budyšin 1877
  • Spreewald Emperor song that from the Spreewald forest of Her Majesty the Empress of Germany and Queen of Prussia and His Imperial Highness presented the Young Women's deputation to the Crown Prince of the German Reich in Berlin. Narrow, Bautzen 1878
  • Wélgi zescźonemu a lubemu Kněsoju Janoju Postoju ... well Jogo rědny 50lětny Sswěźeń. Schischeź Ssmoleréjz knigłyschischeźaŕńe, Budyschyŕe 1884
  • Peace Viso ifraa Vigguin sungje i Nørdre - Gudbrandsdalsk Dølamaal. Cammermeyer, Christiania 1885
  • As Girenas: The Littauische question some newspapers with a German and littauischen answer. Voska, Tilsit in 1888
  • As Girenas. Le Livre des Salutations adressees aux Nations Orientales et Occidentales composé pour le Congrès VIIIième of Orientalistes qui se réunira à Stockholm en 1889 Drugulin, Leipzig 1888
  • As Girenas: au dernier moment. Postscript du Livre des Salutations address au Congrès of Orientalistes. Drugulin, Leipzig, 1889
  • As Girenas: West - Eastern Stud Book. At Mirza Schaffy 's seventieth birthday April 22, 1889. Drugulin, Leipzig, 1889
  • As Girenas: Immanuel Kant and Ludwig Windthorst regarding appropriate treatment and adequate teaching of a foreign people, and the school -sided fight against socialism. Tønsbergs Bogtrykkeri, Christiania 1891
  • As Girenas: On Some aberrations and mistakes latest culture. A cry for help for the benefit of many poor children and parents to the great German nation. Mauderode, Christiania, Omtvedt and Tilsit in 1891
  • As Girenas: border guard sonnets about speech and silence. [No Publisher ] [ Without place ] 1893
  • As Girenas: In death life. Poem from the mourning month of March 1864. [ Without Verlag], [ Without place ] 1894
  • About littauisches national character and littauische folk costume. Culturgeschichtliches conversation between Mr Germanus and Lithuanus, caused by the Minzloff'schen Littauer photographs and explanation thereof. Mauderode, Tilsit in 1894
  • Three patriotic speeches from the beautiful 1871, held at the Emperor's birthday, at the Peace Festival and the arrival of warriors to Gronau Leine. Gerstenberg, Hildesheim 1896
  • Skyrimo Draugystės Vyriausybė. Mielieji skyrėjai Lietuvininkai. [ Without Verlag], Tilsit in 1898
  • From Arya to Eire, from Manu to Man. The Queen Victoria Birth - Day Polyglot Peace album. The Nations ' undiplomatic Concert of Languages ​​. Polyglot Peace Album in Memory of the 80th Birth Day of Her Majesty Queen Victoria Empress of India Jaitrigrantha. Drugulin, Leipzig 1899
  • Sprogstudier above skaldskab i fred agent tjeneste. ( Foredrag af dr. G. Sauerwein i fred forums ingen paa Nobeldagen. ) Cammermeyer, Christiania 1903
  • Laetare. A Congratulation to Kymdeithas on the occasion of her first centenary as being therefore the most genuine missionary society, the most promising peace society and the greatest linguist in the world by Pacificus. Share - trykkeriet, Kristiania 1904
  • Frido Mětšk (ed.): Juro Surowin: Wšyknym by KSEL tołmacyś. Wuběrk basnjow. Domowina, Budyšyn 1975
  • Frido Mětšk (ed.): Juro Surowin: Sol zemje. Wuběrk proze. Domowina, Budyšyn 1978
  • Domas Kaunas ( ed.): Nemunyciai. Kaip azuols druts prie Nemunelio. Vilnius, 1986, pp. 99-217
  • Kito Lorenc (ed.): Serbska poezija 29: Juro Surowin. Ludowe Nak. Domowina, Budyšyn 1991
  • Alfred Franzkeit and Jokubas Skliutauskas (ed.): Sauerwein poems. From the collection of Dr. Jonas Basanavičius, 1922. Melina Verlag, Ratingen 1993
  • Korla Awgust Kocor and Georg Sauerwein ( text ): Norwegian songs. For voice and piano. ENA music publishing, Litschen 1995
  • Jan Torgeir Lindsøe (ed.): Peace Viso ifraa Vigguin sungje i Nørdre - Gudbrandsdalsk Dølamaal. [ Without Verlag], Dovre 2006
Pundit Sorbian languages Reichstag (German Empire) Integrated Authority File
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