Nakdimon S. Doniach facts for kids
Nakdimon Shabbethay Doniach (born May 8, 1907, in London, England – died April 16, 1994, in Oxford, England) was a very smart British man who worked for the government. He was also a lexicographer, which means he helped create dictionaries. He was an expert in ancient languages like Hebrew and other Semitic languages.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Nakdimon Doniach was the son of Aaron Selig Dionach. His father was a Zionist, a person who supported the idea of a Jewish homeland. Nakdimon went to Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School for his early education.
University Studies
In 1923, Nakdimon started studying Hebrew, Greek, and Latin at King's College, London. After two years, he won a special scholarship. This allowed him to continue his studies at Wadham College, Oxford. There, he earned a degree in Hebrew and Arabic. For several years, he worked as a private scholar and also sold books.
World War II Service
When World War II began, Doniach joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was quickly chosen to work at Bletchley Park. This was a top-secret place where British codebreakers worked during the war. They tried to break enemy codes, especially those from Germany.
Role at Bletchley Park
Nakdimon Doniach worked at Bletchley Park for 11 years. He reached the rank of Squadron Leader. This means he was an important leader in the RAF. His work there was very important for the war effort.
Post-War Career
After his time in the RAF, Doniach moved to the Foreign Office department. This department was part of GCHQ in Cheltenham. GCHQ is a British intelligence and security agency. It helps protect the UK from threats.
Director of Technical Language Section
At GCHQ, Nakdimon Doniach became the Director of the Technical Language Section. This meant he was in charge of a team that dealt with different languages.
Cold War Contributions
During the Cold War, Doniach taught Russian to people working for the Foreign Office. The Cold War was a long period of tension between Western countries and the Soviet Union. He also helped create special dictionaries. These dictionaries were for members of the British intelligence services. They helped them understand foreign languages and information.
Awards and Legacy
Nakdimon Doniach was recognized for his important work. He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1967. This is a special honor given by the British monarch.
Dictionary Editor
He was also famous for his work on dictionaries. He was the editor of the 1972 Oxford English-Arabic Dictionary. He also edited the 1982 Concise Oxford English-Arabic Dictionary of Current Usage. These dictionaries are very useful for people learning or using English and Arabic.
