Origins & Early Life

Jens Otto Harry Jespersen (Danish: [ˈʌtˢo ˈjespɐsn̩]; 16 July 1860 – 30 April 1943) was a Danish linguist who worked in foreign-language pedagogy, historical phonetics, and other areas, but is best known for his description of the grammar of the English language. Steven Mithen describes him as "one of the greatest language scholars of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries." Otto Jespersen was born in Randers in Jutland, to Jens Bloch Jespersen (1813–1870) and Sophie Caroline Bentzien (1833–1874). He was one of nine children. After his father died the family moved to Hillerød, where his Jutland accent was ridiculed.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

As a boy, Jespersen was inspired by works of the Danish philologist Rasmus Rask and the biography of Rask by Niels Matthias Petersen; and with the help of Rask's grammars taught himself some Icelandic, Italian, and Spanish. Jespersen's father, grandfather and great-grandfather had been lawyers, and the same was expected of him. He entered the University of Copenhagen in 1877 when he was 17, initially studying law but not abandoning his language studies. In his first year at university, he attended a lecture course by Sophus...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anton Chekhov — Contemporary (Born in 1860) (1860): Master of Russian literature, celebrated for poignant realism and subtle drama.
• Arthur Schopenhauer — Contemporary (Died in 1860) (1860): Pioneering philosopher known for 'The World as Will and Representation' and philosophical pessimism.
• Bernard Kroger — Contemporary (Born in 1860) (1860): Pioneering American supermarket chain founder, introducing self-service shopping.
• Alvy Ray Smith — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering computer scientist and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios.
• Antonio Inoki — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering Japanese wrestler, martial artist, and political figure.
• Arthur Ashe — Contemporary (Born in 1943) (1943): Pioneering American tennis star, celebrated for his skill and activism.
• Andrea del Sarto — Shared historical date (07-16 · Born) (1486): Florentine painter celebrated for fresco work during the High Renaissance.
• Andros Townsend — Shared historical date (07-16 · Born) (1991): English professional footballer known for his time at Tottenham Hotspur and subsequent moves.
• Akihito — Shared historical date (04-30 · Died) (2019): 125th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the Heisei era (1989-2019).
• Ana de Armas — Shared historical date (04-30 · Born) (1988): Cuban-Spanish actress known for roles in Hollywood thrillers and dramas.
• 1860 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1860
• July 16 (07-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 16
• 1943 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1943
• April 30 (04-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on April 30