Maurice Grevisse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maurice Grevisse
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| Born | 7 October 1895 Rulles, Belgium
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| Died | 4 July 1980 (aged 84) La Louvière, Belgium
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| Nationality | Belgian |
| Occupation | French language grammarian |
Maurice Grevisse was a famous Belgian expert in the French language. He was born on October 7, 1895, and passed away on July 4, 1980. He is best known for writing a very important book about French grammar called Le Bon Usage. This book is still used by many people today.
Contents
Maurice Grevisse's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Maurice Grevisse was born in Rulles, a small village in Luxembourg province, Belgium. His family had a long tradition of working as blacksmiths. But Maurice decided to follow a different path. He wanted to become a school teacher instead.
He went to the Normal School of Carlsbourg. In 1915, he earned his diploma as a primary school teacher. After that, he studied at the Normal School of Malonne. He graduated as a secondary school teacher of French literature.
Becoming a Professor
Maurice Grevisse started teaching French at a school for army students in Marneffe. While teaching, he also taught himself Latin and Greek. He continued his studies at the University of Liège. In 1925, he earned a special degree called Doctor of Classical Philology. This means he was an expert in old languages and texts. In 1927, he became a professor at the Royal School for Cadets in Namur.
Creating Le Bon Usage
As a teacher and professor, Grevisse noticed something important. The grammar books available at the time did not fully meet the needs of his students. He realized there was a need for a better guide. So, he started collecting his own notes and ideas. He put them all together to create a new book. He called this book Le Bon Usage.
Many famous publishers did not want to print his book at first. But a smaller publisher from Gembloux, Belgium, finally published it in 1936. This led to the start of the Duculot publishing house. The book became very popular right away. Its success continued even during the war. A famous writer named André Gide even wrote in a newspaper that Le Bon Usage was the best French grammar guide ever.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1971, Maurice Grevisse was given a special award called the Legion of Honour. From 1967 until he passed away, he was a member of the International Council for the French Language. This group helps guide how the French language is used.
Maurice Grevisse died in La Louvière, Belgium. After his death, his son-in-law, André Goosse, continued his work. André Goosse was also a grammarian. He kept updating and revising Le Bon Usage. The book is now in its 16th edition. It is still a very important resource for anyone studying French grammar.
