Jaan Puhvel facts for kids

Jaan Puhvel (born on January 24, 1932) is an Estonian expert in languages and myths. He specializes in Indo-European studies, which looks at ancient languages and cultures.

Puhvel was born in Estonia. In 1944, his family had to leave their home because of the Soviet occupation. They eventually settled in Canada. He earned a high university degree (a Ph.D.) in comparative linguistics from Harvard University. Later, he became a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There, he taught classical languages, Indo-European studies, and the Hittite language. He also started a center for studying Folklore and Mythology at UCLA.

Jaan Puhvel is famous for creating the Hittite Etymological Dictionary. This is a special dictionary that explains where Hittite words come from. He has also written and edited many books about ancient Proto-Indo-European mythology and how people lived in ancient times.

Early Life and Schooling

Jaan Puhvel was born in Tallinn, Estonia, on January 24, 1932. His father, Karl Puhvel, was a civil 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 moved to Finland. This was because the Soviet Union took control of the Baltic states. Later that year, they moved to Sweden. While in high school in Sweden, Jaan decided he wanted to study Indo-European linguistics. This field explores the history of languages that are related to each other.

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 there. He even won a special award called the Governor General's Gold Medal.

With a scholarship, Puhvel went to Harvard University. He was chosen to be a Member of the Harvard Society of Fellows in 1953. From 1954 to 1955, he studied in Paris, France, at Sorbonne University, and in Uppsala, Sweden, at Uppsala University. He learned from many famous linguists and scholars. After his studies, he taught classics at McGill, Harvard, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Jaan Puhvel received his PhD in comparative linguistics from Harvard University in 1959. His main project for this degree was about a language theory called the laryngeal theory. This work was later published as a book.

Career and Achievements

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

In 1961, Puhvel started the Center for the Study of Comparative Folklore and Mythology at UCLA. He also held other important roles at the university. 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. Some of his well-known students at UCLA include C. Scott Littleton and Donald J. Ward.

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 academic groups. He received a special honor from Finland in 1967.

One of Puhvel's biggest achievements is the Hittite Etymological Dictionary. He started this huge project in 1984, and it has many volumes. This dictionary explains the origins of words in the ancient Hittite language. It has been a major work for over 50 years.

Jaan Puhvel has retired from UCLA. He is now a Professor Emeritus, which 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 a festschrift was published in his honor. In 2001, he received the Estonian Order of the White Star, which is a high award. He also helped with the Estonian translation of the ancient story of Gilgamesh.

The Estonian poet Kaarel Kressa has called Puhvel one of the world's most important experts on the Hittite language and one of Estonia's top scholars.

Personal Life

Jaan Puhvel married Madli Puhvel, an Estonian microbiologist, on June 4, 1960. They have three children. 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 Books and Works