Walther von Wartburg facts for kids

Walther von Wartburg was a famous Swiss expert in languages. He was born in Riedholz on May 18, 1888, and passed away in Basel on August 15, 1971. He spent his life studying words and their history. He was best known for leading the creation of a huge dictionary called the Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch.

A Journey Through Learning

Walther von Wartburg loved learning. He studied at many universities. These included places like Berne, Zurich, Florence, and Paris. In 1918, he finished his main university project. It was about "Names for sheep in Romance languages."

Later, in 1921, he became a special teacher in Berne. He also worked and studied at the University of Leipzig from 1929 to 1939. From 1940 to 1959, he was a professor. He taught about the French language at the University of Basle.

His Amazing Dictionary Project

Walther von Wartburg's most important work was a dictionary. It was called the Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch. This long German name means "Etymological French Dictionary."

An etymological dictionary is very special. It doesn't just tell you what words mean. It also tells you where words come from. It explains how they have changed over many years. This dictionary helped people understand the history of French words. It is still a very important book for language experts today.

Awards and Special Honors

Walther von Wartburg received many honors for his work. He was given special degrees from two universities. These were the University of Lausanne and the University of Leeds.

In 1963, he received a very important award. It was called the German Order of Merit. This award is given to people who have done great things in science and art. It showed how much his work was valued.

His Lasting Legacy

Today, there is a special award named after him. It is called the Prix Wartburg de Littérature. This award is given out every year on April 25. It honors someone who defends the French language. The person must be known for their elegant writing. They might also be recognized for being original or different.

The award does not always go to a new book. It can also celebrate a writer's entire career. Or it can honor a book that was written many years ago.

Family Life

Walther von Wartburg was married four times during his life. His last wife was Gisela von Richthoffen. She was from Switzerland.