Ferdinand Brunot
Encyclopedia
Ferdinand-Eugène-Jean-Baptiste Brunot (1860-1938) was a French linguist and philologist, editor of the ground-breaking Histoire de la langue française des origines à 1900 ("History of the French Language from its Origins to 1900").
Brunot was born in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
. He found his first faculty position and published his first book from the Faculté des lettres de Lyon, now the Lumière University Lyon 2
. In October of 1891 he became a lecturer at the Sorbonne
at the age of 31. Here he began his long collaboration with fellow linguist Louis Petit de Julleville
and produced the first volume of his monumental History, dealing with medieval French. It would eventually stretch to nine volumes published in his lifetime, and 13 volumes altogether. He also published a standard French grammar, and several papers advocating simplified French spelling.
Brunot served as mayor of the 14th arrondissement of Paris in the difficult war years of 1914 through 1919, and served as dean of the University of Paris
from 1919 through 1928 while engineering its significant expansion. He was appointed to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
in 1925, later serving as its president, and was awarded the Grand Croix of the Legion of Honor in 1933. One of the squares in Paris
and one of its fountains, both in his home arrondissement, bear his name.
Brunot was born in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, commonly referred to as Saint-Dié, is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
. He found his first faculty position and published his first book from the Faculté des lettres de Lyon, now the Lumière University Lyon 2
Lumière University Lyon 2
Lumière University Lyon 2 is one of the three universities that comprise the current University of Lyon, having splintered from an older university of the same name, and is primarily based on two campuses in Lyon itself...
. In October of 1891 he became a lecturer at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
at the age of 31. Here he began his long collaboration with fellow linguist Louis Petit de Julleville
Louis Petit de Julleville
Louis Petit de Julleville was a French scholar. He was born in Paris.Educated at the École Normale Supérieure, and at the French School at Athens, he received his doctorate in literature in 1868...
and produced the first volume of his monumental History, dealing with medieval French. It would eventually stretch to nine volumes published in his lifetime, and 13 volumes altogether. He also published a standard French grammar, and several papers advocating simplified French spelling.
Brunot served as mayor of the 14th arrondissement of Paris in the difficult war years of 1914 through 1919, and served as dean of the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
from 1919 through 1928 while engineering its significant expansion. He was appointed to the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
in 1925, later serving as its president, and was awarded the Grand Croix of the Legion of Honor in 1933. One of the squares in Paris
Squares in Paris
Paris is known as the City of Light. Part of the credit for this soubriquet can be ascribed to long-standing city ordinances that have restricted the height of buildings in the central city. A more modest skyline, interrupted only by the Eiffel Tower, the Tour Montparnasse, Sacré-Coeur, and a few...
and one of its fountains, both in his home arrondissement, bear his name.