Jaan Puhvel facts for kids

Jaan Puhvel (born January 24, 1932) is a famous Estonian expert in languages and old stories. He studies how ancient languages, especially those from Europe and parts of Asia, are connected. He is known for his work in Indo-European studies.

When he was young, his family had to leave Estonia in 1944 because of war. They eventually moved to Canada. Jaan Puhvel earned his highest degree, a Ph.D., in language studies from Harvard University. He became a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There, he taught about classical languages, Indo-European studies, and the ancient Hittite language. He also started a center at UCLA to study old stories and myths.

Puhvel is the creator of the Hittite Etymological Dictionary. This is a huge project that explains the history of words in the Hittite language. He has also written and edited many books about ancient Proto-Indo-European mythology and how people lived in those times.

Early Life and Education

Jaan Puhvel was born in Tallinn, Estonia, on January 24, 1932. His father, Karl Puhvel, was an engineer who managed forests for the Estonian government. Jaan went to school in Aegviidu and at the Jakob Westholm Gymnasium in Estonia.

In April 1944, his family had to leave Estonia because of the Soviet occupation. They first went to Finland and then moved to Sweden. While in high school in Sweden, Jaan decided he wanted to become a scholar. He wanted to study how ancient languages were related to each other.

Studying Languages in Canada and Beyond

Puhvel finished high school in Sweden in 1949. His family then moved to Canada. He studied Latin, French, and Ancient Greek at McGill University. In 1952, he earned a master's degree in comparative linguistics. He even won a special award called the Governor General's Gold Medal for his excellent work.

With a scholarship from the Canadian government, Puhvel went to Harvard University in the United States. He was chosen to be a member of the Harvard Society of Fellows in 1953. From 1954 to 1955, he continued his studies in Europe. He studied at Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden.

In Paris, he learned from famous linguists like Georges Dumézil. In Sweden, he studied with philologist Stig Wikander. After his studies, he taught classical languages at McGill, Harvard, and the University of Texas at Austin. In 1959, Puhvel earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University. His Ph.D. paper was about a theory of language sounds. It was later published as a book called Laryngeals and the Indo-European Verb in 1960.

Academic Career and Contributions

Jaan Puhvel began teaching at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1958. He taught about classical languages and how Indo-European languages are connected. In 1965, he became a full professor of Indo-European Studies at UCLA.

Founding Centers and Mentoring Students

In 1961, Puhvel started the Center for the Study of Comparative Folklore and Mythology at UCLA. This center helps people research and understand old stories and myths from different cultures. He also held important leadership roles at UCLA. He was the Director of the Center for Research in Languages and Linguistics from 1962 to 1967. He also led the Department of Classics from 1968 to 1975.

Many students learned from Professor Puhvel. Two of his well-known students at UCLA were C. Scott Littleton, who became an anthropologist, and Donald J. Ward, who became a folklorist.

Major Works and Recognition

Puhvel was the President of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies from 1971 to 1972. He is also a member of many other important academic groups. He received a special award called the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1968. He also became an Officer First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 1967.

One of Puhvel's most important projects is the Hittite Etymological Dictionary. This huge dictionary, which started in 1984, explains the origins and meanings of words in the ancient Hittite language. As of 2020, ten volumes of this dictionary have been published. This work represents more than fifty years of his dedication.

Jaan Puhvel has retired from UCLA and is now a Professor Emeritus. This means he is a retired professor who is still highly respected. He also taught as a visiting professor at the University of Tartu in Estonia from 1993 to 1999. In 1997, a special book called Studies in Honor of Jaan Puhvel was published to celebrate his work. In 2001, he received the Estonian Order of the White Star, Third Class, a high honor from his home country. He also helped with the Estonian translation of the ancient epic story of Gilgamesh.

The Estonian poet Kaarel Kressa has called Jaan Puhvel one of the world's leading experts on the Hittites and one of Estonia's most important scholars.

Personal Life

Jaan Puhvel married Madli Puhvel, an Estonian microbiologist, on June 4, 1960. They have three children together. His brother, Martin Puhvel, is also a scholar who studies languages.

Jaan Puhvel lives in Encino, Los Angeles, in the United States. However, he spends every summer at his family's restored farm in Kõrvemaa, Estonia.

Selected Works

Jaan Puhvel has written and edited many important books and articles. Here are some of his notable works:

• Laryngeals and the Indo-European Verb (1960)
• Myth and Law among the Indo-Europeans: Studies in Indo-European Comparative Mythology (Editor and Contributor, 1970)
• Analecta Indoeuropaea (1981)
• Hittite Etymological Dictionary (Editor, 1984–)
• Comparative Mythology (1987)
• Homer and Hittite (1991)