Ljudevit Jonke
Encyclopedia
Ljudevit Jonke was a Croatian linguist.
in Karlovac, he graduated at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb
the history of Yugoslav literatures, Croatian
and Old Church Slavonic
language and folk history with Russian and Latin. He spent two years (1930-1932) at the Charles University in Prague
. Demonstrating the affiliation to literary and historical topics, he starts to translate from Czech. From 1933 he works as a professor at the gymnasium in Sušak
, and in 1940 he relocates to Zagreb, where professor Stjepan Ivšić
chooses him as an assistant in 1942. He was married to Nada Marković in 1940 with whom he had a daughter Dubravka and son Mladen (1944).
Simultaneously engaging himself in the topics of Croatian and Czech studies, he receives his Ph.D. with a thesis Dikcionar Karlovčanina Adama Patačića (Work of JAZU #274). From autumn 1945 he teaches Czech language and literature, and from autumn 1949 modern Croatian language at the newly-established department which he was a head from 1950, when he acquired the status of docent, up until the retirement in 1973. He became a regular professor in 1960. In 1950s Jonke engages in systematic study of a completely neglected subject of problems of Croatian language from the Illyrian
times to the end of 19th century (Borbe oko književnog oblika imeničkog genitiva množine u 19. stoljeću, 1957.; Osnovni problemi hrvatskoga književnog jezika u 19. stoljeću, 1958; Sporovi pri odabiranju govora za zajednički književni jezik Hrvata u 19. stoljeću, 1959). He carefully examined the work of Bogoslav Šulek
and Adolfo Veber Tkalčević
.
He was a participant of Novi Sad agreement
, styliser and the editor of "common" orthography, one of the editors of (also common) Dictionary of Serbo-Croatian literary language, member of JAZU. As soon as the applications of Novi Sad conclusions became detrimental at the expense of Croatian language, he publishes a series of polemics with Serb linguists and writers in which he defends the right of Croatian nation to its own language and the right of that language to achieve equal social status. He edited two columns of language advices (from 1961 in Telegram and since 1971 in Vjesnik
), edited journal Jezik for 17 years, has been the vice-president of Matica hrvatska
. In 1963 he was elected as a member of JAZU. Due to the alleged "Croat nationalism", having been denounced after signing the Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Standard Language
, and after the coup in Karađorđevo (1971) he was forcefully retired in 1973. Since then he has worked on the completion of JAZU dictionary. Jonke's main contribution (beside polemical and political discussions in which he had done lion's share of fight against forceful Serbification of Croatian language) is in revitalising the interest to the contributions of Zagreb philological school and its essential role in the standardisation
of Croatian language - a fact whose importance was often diminished and neglected for political reasons.
Life and work
After finishing primary school and gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Karlovac, he graduated at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
the history of Yugoslav literatures, Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
and Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic
Old Church Slavonic or Old Church Slavic was the first literary Slavic language, first developed by the 9th century Byzantine Greek missionaries Saints Cyril and Methodius who were credited with standardizing the language and using it for translating the Bible and other Ancient Greek...
language and folk history with Russian and Latin. He spent two years (1930-1932) at the Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
. Demonstrating the affiliation to literary and historical topics, he starts to translate from Czech. From 1933 he works as a professor at the gymnasium in Sušak
Sušak
Sušak is a part of the city of Rijeka in Croatia, where it composes the eastern part of the city.In 1924, Rijeka belonged to the independent Free State of Fiume, which had been created four years earlier under the Treaty of Rapallo, but in the Treaty of Rome the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and...
, and in 1940 he relocates to Zagreb, where professor Stjepan Ivšić
Stjepan Ivšic
Stjepan Ivšić , Croatian linguist, Slavist and accentologist.After finishing primary school in Orahovica, he attended secondary school in Osijek and Požega. At the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zagreb he studied Croatian and classical philology, and later specialized at the...
chooses him as an assistant in 1942. He was married to Nada Marković in 1940 with whom he had a daughter Dubravka and son Mladen (1944).
Simultaneously engaging himself in the topics of Croatian and Czech studies, he receives his Ph.D. with a thesis Dikcionar Karlovčanina Adama Patačića (Work of JAZU #274). From autumn 1945 he teaches Czech language and literature, and from autumn 1949 modern Croatian language at the newly-established department which he was a head from 1950, when he acquired the status of docent, up until the retirement in 1973. He became a regular professor in 1960. In 1950s Jonke engages in systematic study of a completely neglected subject of problems of Croatian language from the Illyrian
Illyrian movement
The Illyrian movement , also Croatian national revival , was a cultural and political campaign with roots in the early modern period, and revived by a group of young Croatian intellectuals during the first half of 19th century, around the years of 1835–1849...
times to the end of 19th century (Borbe oko književnog oblika imeničkog genitiva množine u 19. stoljeću, 1957.; Osnovni problemi hrvatskoga književnog jezika u 19. stoljeću, 1958; Sporovi pri odabiranju govora za zajednički književni jezik Hrvata u 19. stoljeću, 1959). He carefully examined the work of Bogoslav Šulek
Bogoslav Šulek
Bogoslav Šulek, born Bohuslav Šulek , was a Croatian philologist, historian and lexicographer. He founded much of the Croatian terminology in the areas of social and natural sciences, technology and civilization. He is considered one of the most influential Croatian philologists of all time.-Early...
and Adolfo Veber Tkalčević
Adolfo Veber Tkalcevic
Adolfo Veber Tkalčević , Croatian philologist, writer, literary critic and aestheticist.He received degrees in philosophy in Zagreb, theology in Budapest and Slavistics in Vienna....
.
He was a participant of Novi Sad agreement
Novi Sad agreement
The Novi Sad Agreement was an attempt by twenty five Serbian, Croatian and Montenegrin writers, linguists and intellectuals to build unity across the ethnic and linguistic divisions within Yugoslavia, and created the Serbo-Croatian language....
, styliser and the editor of "common" orthography, one of the editors of (also common) Dictionary of Serbo-Croatian literary language, member of JAZU. As soon as the applications of Novi Sad conclusions became detrimental at the expense of Croatian language, he publishes a series of polemics with Serb linguists and writers in which he defends the right of Croatian nation to its own language and the right of that language to achieve equal social status. He edited two columns of language advices (from 1961 in Telegram and since 1971 in Vjesnik
Vjesnik
Vjesnik is a Croatian daily newspaper, published in Zagreb. Through its history, it has been considered a newspaper of record.The paper was originally printed as a monthly publication by the League of Communists of Croatia starting in 1940...
), edited journal Jezik for 17 years, has been the vice-president of Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska is one of the oldest Croatian cultural institutions, dating back to 1842. The name is somewhat idiosyncratic, best translated as "The Croatian Centre" . It is the largest publisher of Croatian language books...
. In 1963 he was elected as a member of JAZU. Due to the alleged "Croat nationalism", having been denounced after signing the Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Standard Language
Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Standard Language
The Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Literary Language was a document brought by Croat scholars. The declaration was published on March 13, 1967 in the Telegram, Yugoslav newspapers for social and cultural issues, nr. 359, 17 March 1967...
, and after the coup in Karađorđevo (1971) he was forcefully retired in 1973. Since then he has worked on the completion of JAZU dictionary. Jonke's main contribution (beside polemical and political discussions in which he had done lion's share of fight against forceful Serbification of Croatian language) is in revitalising the interest to the contributions of Zagreb philological school and its essential role in the standardisation
Standard language
A standard language is a language variety used by a group of people in their public discourse. Alternatively, varieties become standard by undergoing a process of standardization, during which it is organized for description in grammars and dictionaries and encoded in such reference works...
of Croatian language - a fact whose importance was often diminished and neglected for political reasons.
Works
- Dikcionar Adama Patačića (Zagreb, 1949),
- Književni jezik u teoriji i praksi (Zagreb, 1964. i 1965),
- Hrvatski književni jezik 19. i 20. stoljeća (Zagreb, 1971),
- Hrvatski književni jezik danas (Zagreb, 1971; forbidden)