John Sampson (linguist) facts for kids

John Sampson (1862–1931) was an Irish linguist, a person who studies languages, a literary scholar, who studies books and writing, and a librarian. He worked in a library. As a scholar, he is best known for his important book, The Dialect of the Gypsies of Wales (1926). This book was a key study of the Welsh Romani language.

Early Life and Discoveries

John Sampson was born in Schull, County Cork, Ireland, in 1862. His father, James Sampson, was a chemist and engineer. His family moved to Liverpool in 1871 after his father lost money. John was the oldest of four sons.

He left school at age 14 after his father passed away. John then became an apprentice to an engraver and lithographer. In 1888, he started his own printing business.

In 1892, John Sampson became the librarian at University College, Liverpool. He had mostly taught himself what he needed to know for this job. A scholar named Kuno Meyer supported his application.

In 1894, John Sampson went on a camping trip. Near Bala, he met a musician named Edward Wood. The Wood family were descendants of Abram Wood. They were known for speaking Welsh Romani, a very pure form of the Romani language. This language became Sampson's main area of study. People started calling him Romano rai, which means "Romany Lord" or "Gypsy scholar."

In 1896, Sampson met Matthew Wood, Edward's brother. Matthew and his four sons were very good at speaking Welsh Romani. They shared many folk tales with Sampson. He spent his holidays with them. This is when he started a 30-year project to study the language. Matthew Wood, however, disappeared a few years later.

In 1901, Sampson met the artist Augustus John. John was teaching at an art school linked to University College. They became good friends. This friendship led Augustus John to often paint pictures of Romani people.

Working with Researchers

For his big book, The Dialect of the Gypsies of Wales, John Sampson had help from several assistants. One important assistant was Dora Esther Yates. Other helpers included Gladys Imlach, Eileen Lyster, and Agnes Marston.

In 1906, Yates and Marston were sent to research the language of some German Romani people. They went to Blackpool for their research.

In 1907, Yates and Marston found the burial place of Abram Wood. This was at Llangelynnin. Eileen Lyster later confirmed this finding. In 1908, Yates and Marston also found Matthew Wood. He was Sampson's important Welsh Romani source. Matthew had been out of contact for nine years.

Later Life and Legacy

John Sampson retired as a librarian in 1928. He passed away on November 9, 1931, in West Kirby, Cheshire. His funeral was not religious. It included some Romani traditions. His ashes were scattered on Foel-goch.

Dora Yates became the keeper of his writings and notes. She organized Sampson's funeral on November 21, 1931. It took place at Llangwm. Augustus John was there, along with Sampson's son Michael. Several Romani people, including Ithal Lee and musicians, also attended. Many national newspapers wrote about the event.

Sampson's Studies

While he was still a printer, Sampson studied Shelta. This is a language used in the United Kingdom and United States. It has Irish origins. His work on Shelta was published in 1937.

An early work by Sampson on the Romani people was "English Gypsy Songs and Rhymes." It had eighteen Anglo-Romani pieces. This was published in 1891 in the Journal of the Gypsy Lore Society.

Sampson also edited a collection of poems by William Blake. This book, Blake's "Poetical Works" (1905), fixed the text from Blake's original works. It also noted any changes found in published versions. This edition was called "the first accurate and completely trustworthy edition." The 1913 edition was the first to publish Blake's poem The French Revolution.

The University of Oxford gave Sampson an honorary degree in 1909. This was a D.Litt.. It recognized his studies of languages and his work as a literary scholar.

The Dialect of the Gypsies of Wales (1926) was Sampson's most important work. He started this book with Edward Wood. Edward Wood passed away in 1902.

Family Life

John Sampson married Margaret Sprunt in 1894. They had two sons, Michael and Amyas, and a daughter, Honor. Amyas was killed fighting in World War I.

Michael Sampson was the father of the writer Anthony Sampson. Anthony Sampson wrote a book about John Sampson called The Scholar Gypsy: The Quest For A Family Secret (1997).

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  John Sampson