Herbert E. Brekle
Encyclopedia
Herbert Ernst Brekle is a German
typographer and linguist. Brekle's main research interests are semantics
, word formation
theory, history of linguistics
, history of Western alphabets and typography
.
and philosophy
at the University of Tübingen, and obtained his doctorate in 1963. In 1969, he achieved his habilitation also at the University of Tübingen, where he had been a research assistant at the department of English philology headed by Hans Marchand; in the years 1967–69, he was supported by a postdoctoral scholarship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
.
In the same year, Brekle was appointed to the chair of general linguistics at the University of Regensburg
, which he held until his retirement in 2001. In 1974/75, he was a visiting professor at McGill University
in Montreal
, Canada
, and ten years later at the Université de Paris VII (1984/85). From 1984 to 1986, Brekle also held the office of the chairman of the German Linguistic Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sprachwissenschaft).
Parallel to his academic work, Brekle has also been active in politics and has held various political offices: In 1960/61, he chaired the General Students' Committee and the Baden-Württemberg
branch of the Association of German student bodies (Verband Deutscher Studentenschaften). From 1972 to 1978 and again from 1990 to 1996, Brekle was member of the city council of Regensburg
, and from 1978 to 1982 member of the district assembly (Bezirkstag) of Upper Palatinate
. Between 1978 and 1986, he also served as chairman of the Regensburg county group of the Bavarian branch of the League for the environment and nature conservation
(Bund Naturschutz in Bayern).
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
typographer and linguist. Brekle's main research interests are semantics
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what they stand for, their denotata....
, word formation
Word formation
In linguistics, word formation is the creation of a new word. Word formation is sometimes contrasted with semantic change, which is a change in a single word's meaning...
theory, history of linguistics
History of linguistics
Linguistics as a study endeavors to describe and explain the human faculty of language.In ancient civilization, linguistic study was originally motivated by the correct description of classical liturgical language, notably that of Sanskrit grammar by , or by the development of logic and rhetoric...
, history of Western alphabets and typography
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
.
Life
Brekle worked from 1951 to 1957 as a compositor, proofreader, and printer. He studied from 1958 to 1963 English philology, Romance studiesRomance studies
Romance studies is an umbrella academic discipline that covers the study of the languages, literatures, and cultures of areas that speak a Romance language. Romance studies departments usually include the study of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Tübingen, and obtained his doctorate in 1963. In 1969, he achieved his habilitation also at the University of Tübingen, where he had been a research assistant at the department of English philology headed by Hans Marchand; in the years 1967–69, he was supported by a postdoctoral scholarship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft is an important German research funding organization and the largest such organization in Europe.-Function:...
.
In the same year, Brekle was appointed to the chair of general linguistics at the University of Regensburg
University of Regensburg
The University of Regensburg is a public research university located in the medieval city of Regensburg, Bavaria, a city that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university was founded on July 18, 1962 by the Landtag of Bavaria as the fourth full-fledged university in Bavaria...
, which he held until his retirement in 2001. In 1974/75, he was a visiting professor at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and ten years later at the Université de Paris VII (1984/85). From 1984 to 1986, Brekle also held the office of the chairman of the German Linguistic Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sprachwissenschaft).
Parallel to his academic work, Brekle has also been active in politics and has held various political offices: In 1960/61, he chaired the General Students' Committee and the Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
branch of the Association of German student bodies (Verband Deutscher Studentenschaften). From 1972 to 1978 and again from 1990 to 1996, Brekle was member of the city council of Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, and from 1978 to 1982 member of the district assembly (Bezirkstag) of Upper Palatinate
Upper Palatinate
The Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
. Between 1978 and 1986, he also served as chairman of the Regensburg county group of the Bavarian branch of the League for the environment and nature conservation
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland is a German non-governmental organisation dedicated to preserving nature and protecting the environment. The german title would be translated to something like Union for the environment and nature conservation Germany...
(Bund Naturschutz in Bayern).
Works
- Generative Satzsemantik im System der englischen Nominalkomposition, 2nd ed., München 1976, ISBN 3-7705-1021-6
- Semantik. Eine Einführung in die sprachwissenschaftliche Bedeutungslehre, München 1972, ISBN 3-7705-1181-6
- Einführung in die Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft, Darmstadt 1985, ISBN 3-534-08130-7
- Die Antiqualinie von ca. -1500 bis ca. +1500. Untersuchungen zur Morphogenese des westlichen Alphabets auf kognitivistischer Basis, Münster 1994, ISBN 3-89323-259-1
- Die Prüfeninger Weiheinschrift von 1119. Eine paläographisch-typographische Untersuchung, Scriptorium Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft, Regensburg 2005, ISBN 3-937527-06-0
See also
- Amulet MS 5236Amulet MS 5236MS 5236 is an ancient Greek amulet of the 6th century BC, which is unique in two respects: it is the only known magic amulet of the time inscribed with a text that was printed as opposed to incised, and it is the only extant specimen of ephesia grammata made of gold...
- Prüfening dedicatory inscriptionPrüfening dedicatory inscriptionThe Prüfening dedicatory inscription is a high medieval inscription which was created in 1119, over three hundred years before Johannes Gutenberg, by the typographic principle...
- Roman lead pipe inscriptionRoman lead pipe inscriptionA Roman lead pipe inscription is a Latin inscription on a Roman water pipe made of lead which provides brief information on its manufacturer and owner, often the reigning emperor himself as the supreme authority...
External links
- Die typographische Herstellungstechnik der Inschriften auf dem silbernen Altaraufsatz im Dom von Cividale
- Arbeiten zur Geschichte der Typographie 1964–2001
- Arbeiten zur Geschichte der Sprachwissenschaft
- Beiträge zur Morphogenese der westlichen Alphabetschrift