Jan Arnošt Smoler

January Arnost Smoler, German Johann Ernst Narrow, ( born March 3 1816 in Merzdorf at Uhyst (Spree), † June 13, 1884 in Bautzen ) was a Sorbian philologist, writer and publisher of Upper Lusatia. He was one of the most important representatives of the national rebirth of the Sorbs in the 19th century.

Life

Smolers father was a Protestant cantor. In 1823 he took a job in Lohsa where January Arnost graduated from the primary school, before moving to the high school in Bautzen in 1827. Although there was only taught in German language, Smoler acquired during his high school years in private circles extensive knowledge in his Sorbian language.

In 1836 he began the study of theology at the University of Breslau. In 1839 he completed his studies and returned for nearly three years into his parents' home in Lohsa back. Together with Leopold main and Handrij Zejler he wore at that time the important Sorbian song collection " The folk songs of the Wends in the Upper and Lower Lusatia " together. In recognition of his services to the Wendish language him the Wendish Preachers Society in Leipzig in 1839 awarded honorary membership.

1847 Smoler was co-founder of the Sorbian Culture and Science Association Maćica Serbska. At the same time he was active in the area of the 1848 revolution and politically for the cultural rights of the Sorbian people. The Saxon government made ​​the Sorbs in this regard concessions and 1850, Sorbian has been introduced in some schools. Smoler in 1850, the first Sorbian grammar school at Bautzen. Also at the Bautzen city school he gave lessons. In this capacity, he authored several textbooks.

The following year Smoler founded his own publishing house in Bautzen. He moved from 1852, the weekly newspaper Tydźenska Nowina which existed until today Serbske Nowiny emerged from the 1854, the first publisher and editor Smoler was also. He also gave out the 1852-1856 yearbooks for Slavic literature, art and science that does not last even abroad gained high reputation among linguists. From 1865 to 1868 Smoler was also the Slavic Zentralblatt - out weekly for literature, art, science and national interests of the Gesamtslawentums.

Smoler was one of the proponents of a cultural and Pan-Slavism was a supporter of the theory of Slavic reciprocity. In particular, for his own little people he hoped through cultural contacts of the great Slav nations to encourage and promote the Sorbian culture in the Lausitz. Between 1859 and 1883 undertook Smoler several trips to Russia to procure funds for the financing of its national cultural projects among others.

Smoler died on 13 June 1884 in Bautzen. His tomb is located on the Protschenberg Cemetery.

Fame

In Lohsa the heritage Smolers and Handrij Zejlers is maintained in the meeting Zejler - Smoler - house, which was established in 1994 in the former parish school of the village where Smoler had spent part of his childhood.

In Bautzen 1991 by Domowina publishing the Smoler'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung ( sorb. Smolerjec kniharnja ) was re-established. This is the only bookstore with a complete range of current Sorbian literature. Furthermore, there is an extensive bookshop.

The Bautzen Regional Association of Domowina bears the name Jan Arnost Smolers.

Works

• Wendish - German talks. Bautzen 1841
• Folk songs of the Wends in the Upper and Lower Lusatia, 2 vols 1841 and 1843 (published jointly with Leopold Main)
• Krotke wułpoženje powšitkomneho Serskeho prawjepisanja (Brief description of the general Wendish spelling ) Bautzen 1843.
• German - Wendish dictionary. With a representation of the general Wendish spelling. Bautzen 1843
• Remains of ancient mythology in the Wendish Lausitz.
• Sorbian Wendish language teaching. Bautzen 1850
• Small grammar of the Serbian language in Wendish of Upper Lusatia. Bautzen 1852
• The Slavic place names in Upper Lusatia and their meaning. Festschrift for the 300 year anniversary of the high school to Budissin. Bautzen 1867.

From Smoler moved Writings (selection )

• Eduard Rüffer: The Balkan Peninsula and their peoples from the solution of the Eastern Question: A political- ethnographic and military sketch. 1869
• P. Broniš: The Slavic surnames in Lower Lusatia. 1867
• Karl August Jentsch: History of the Lusatian Preachers Society in Leipzig and list of all its members from the years 1716 to 1866. 1867
• Christian Traugott cesspool: Phonetics and teaching of oberlausitzisch - Wendish language. With special reference to the Old Slavic. 1867
• Central Journal of Slavic Literature and Bibliography (Journal)
• Karl Friedrich Robert Immisch: The Slavonic place names in the Erzgebirge. 1866
• Christian Traugott lake that Handrij Zejler: Lausitzisch Wendish dictionary. 1866
• Slavisches Central Journal: Wochenschr. for literature, art, Wiss. and national interests d Gesammtslaventhums. (Journal)
• Journal of Slavic literature, art and science
• Alexander Hilferding: Bosnia. 1858
• Alexander Hilferding: The linguistic monuments of Drevjaner and Glinjaner Elbslaven in Lueneburg Wendland country. 1857
• Yearbooks for Slavic literature, art and science