William J. Gedney
Encyclopedia
William J. Gedney was an American linguist and Southeast Asian language specialist. Gedney did extensive work Tai
historical linguistics
.
. Upon graduation, Gedney worked as an English teacher in Oregon and Washington. During the summers, he occupied himself seriously with the linguistics, but he was at the outbreak of the Second World War to the Army Language Unit in New York City moved in, where he met with the Thai language employed. At the same time he was a Sanskrit studies at Yale University after.
In 1947, Gedney obtained his doctorate and moved to Thailand, where he studied Thai language and literature. Some of the most important scholars of the country continued with. At the same time he began a collection of Thai literature build the 14,000 copies should have to grow. This small library he gave in 1975 at the University of Michigan. In the following two decades Gedney worked on the Tai–Kadai languages, and led numerous projects through the foregoing. He sought in particular many in the less spoken languages of this family in Southeast Asia and southern China in order to capture the characteristics of these Sprachzen. He was known for the accuracy of his notes on the tonal and phonological characteristics of these languages.
All in all Gedney worked on over 22 languages, such as Saek, Lue, and Yay, often creating the first dictionaries of those languages. His findings, he laid down an eight-volume series in which the Center for South and South East Asian Studies at the University of Michigan have been published.
Gedney retired in 1980 the faculty of the University of Michigan from after 1972-1975 as Dean of the Faculty of Linguistics had worked. Throughout his career, Gedney was in the Linguistic Society of America, the American Oriental Society, the Siam Society, the Association for Asian Studies and Southeast Asian Linguistic Society operates. In 1981, he served as vice president of the American Oriental Society, 1982 as its president.
By focusing on data and his extensive knowledge of the Tai–Kadai languages, Gedney was one of the outstanding scientists of the comparative-historical research of the Siamese, the Thai language
, and other Tai languages. But his influence went far beyond linguistics. Researchers from other disciplines such as history, political science, art history and anthropology sought his advice.
William J. Gedney died on 14 November 1999 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Tai languages
The Tai or Zhuang–Tai languages are a branch of the Tai–Kadai language family. The Tai languages include the most widely spoken of the Tai–Kadai languages, including standard Thai or Siamese, the national language of Thailand; Lao or Laotian, the national language of Laos; Burma's Shan language;...
historical linguistics
Historical linguistics
Historical linguistics is the study of language change. It has five main concerns:* to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages...
.
Life
In 1935, Gedney graduated summa cum laude from Whitman CollegeWhitman College
Whitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
. Upon graduation, Gedney worked as an English teacher in Oregon and Washington. During the summers, he occupied himself seriously with the linguistics, but he was at the outbreak of the Second World War to the Army Language Unit in New York City moved in, where he met with the Thai language employed. At the same time he was a Sanskrit studies at Yale University after.
In 1947, Gedney obtained his doctorate and moved to Thailand, where he studied Thai language and literature. Some of the most important scholars of the country continued with. At the same time he began a collection of Thai literature build the 14,000 copies should have to grow. This small library he gave in 1975 at the University of Michigan. In the following two decades Gedney worked on the Tai–Kadai languages, and led numerous projects through the foregoing. He sought in particular many in the less spoken languages of this family in Southeast Asia and southern China in order to capture the characteristics of these Sprachzen. He was known for the accuracy of his notes on the tonal and phonological characteristics of these languages.
All in all Gedney worked on over 22 languages, such as Saek, Lue, and Yay, often creating the first dictionaries of those languages. His findings, he laid down an eight-volume series in which the Center for South and South East Asian Studies at the University of Michigan have been published.
Gedney retired in 1980 the faculty of the University of Michigan from after 1972-1975 as Dean of the Faculty of Linguistics had worked. Throughout his career, Gedney was in the Linguistic Society of America, the American Oriental Society, the Siam Society, the Association for Asian Studies and Southeast Asian Linguistic Society operates. In 1981, he served as vice president of the American Oriental Society, 1982 as its president.
By focusing on data and his extensive knowledge of the Tai–Kadai languages, Gedney was one of the outstanding scientists of the comparative-historical research of the Siamese, the Thai language
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
, and other Tai languages. But his influence went far beyond linguistics. Researchers from other disciplines such as history, political science, art history and anthropology sought his advice.
William J. Gedney died on 14 November 1999 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Published works
- Gedney, William J. On the Thai Evidence for Austro-Thai. [S.l: s.n, 1976.
- Gedney, William J., and Robert J. Bickner. Selected Papers on Comparative Tai Studies. Michigan papers on South and Southeast Asia, no. 29. Ann Arbor, Mich., USA: Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan, 1989. ISBN 0891480374
- Gedney, William J., Carol J. Compton, and John F. Hartmann. Papers on Tai Languages, Linguistics, and Literatures: In Honor of William J. Gedney on His 77th Birthday. Monograph series on Southeast Asia. [De Kalb]: Northern Illinois University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, 1992. ISBN 1877979163
- Gedney, William J., and Thomas J. Hudak. (1995). William J. Gedney's central Tai dialects: glossaries, texts, and translations. Michigan papers on South and Southeast Asia, no. 43. Ann Arbor, Mich: Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan ISBN 0891480757
- Gedney, William J., and Thomas J. Hudak. William J. Gedney's the Yay Language: Glossary, Texts, and Translations. Michigan papers on South and Southeast Asia, no. 38. Ann Arbor, Mich: Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan, 1991. ISBN 0891480668
- Gedney, William J., and Thomas J. Hudak. William J. Gedney's Southwestern Tai Dialects: Glossaries, Texts and Translations. Michigan papers on South and Southeast Asia, no. 42. [Ann Arbor, Mich.]: Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan, 1994. ISBN 0891480749