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Otto Jespersen

[ˈʌtˢo ˈjespɐsn̩] (Danish)

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Danish linguist best known for his description of English grammar and for his theories of language development and change. His seven-volume A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles remains a standard reference, and Noam Chomsky later credited Jespersen's ideas as anticipating later work in generative syntax.

Facts
Role
Linguist; grammarian of English and theorist of language change 1
Birth Date
1860-07-16 1
Death Date
1943-04-30 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Influenced

Chomsky credited Jespersen's ideas on syntax as anticipating later generative approaches.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Otto Jespersen
Wikimedia FoundationGeneral syntax section
Quote, General syntax section
the work of recent years tends generally to support the basic ideas that Jespersen outlined 50 years ago
View the Source
1. Wikipedia: Otto Jespersen
Wikimedia FoundationIntroductionView the Source
1. Wikipedia: Otto Jespersen
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction, IPA notationView the Source

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