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Mario Pei

January 03, 2023

Mario Andrew Pei (February 16, 1901 – March 2, 1978) was an Italian-born American linguist and polyglot who wrote a number of popular books known for their accessibility to readers without a professional background in linguistics. His book The Story of Language (1949) was acclaimed for its presentation of technical linguistics concepts in ways that were entertaining and accessible to a general audience.[1]

Mario Pei
Born(1901-02-16)February 16, 1901
Rome, Italy
DiedMarch 2, 1978(1978-03-02) (aged 77)
Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Known forPopular linguistics

Pei was a supporter of uniting humans under one language, and in 1958 published a book entitled One Language For the World and How to Achieve It and sent a copy to the leader of every nation in existence at the time. The book argued that the United Nations should select one language—regardless of whether it was an existing natural language like English or a constructed language like Esperanto—and require it to be taught as a second language to every schoolchild in the world.[1]

Life and career

Pei was born in Rome, Italy, and emigrated to the United States with his mother in order to join his father in April 1908. By the time that he was out of high school, he spoke not only English and his native Italian but also French and had studied Latin as well. Over the years, he became fluent in several other languages (including Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and German) capable of speaking some thirty others, having become acquainted with the structure of at least one hundred of the world's languages.

In 1923, he began his career teaching languages at City College of New York, and in 1928 he published his translation of Vittorio Ermete de Fiori's Mussolini: The Man of Destiny. Pei received a PhD from Columbia University in 1937, focusing on Sanskrit, Old Church Slavonic, and Old French.[2]

That year, he joined the Department of Romance Languages at Columbia University, becoming a full professor in 1952. In 1941, he published his first language book, The Italian Language. His facility with languages was in demand in World War II, and Pei served as a language consultant with two agencies of the Department of War.[citation needed] In this role, he wrote language textbooks, developed language courses, and wrote language guidebooks.

While working as a professor of Romance Philology at Columbia University, Pei wrote over 50 books, including the best-sellers The Story of Language (1949) and The Story of English (1952). His other books included Languages for War and Peace (1943; later retitled The World's Chief Languages), A Dictionary of Linguistics (written with Frank Gaynor, 1954), All About Language (1954), Invitation to Linguistics: A Basic Introduction to the Science of Language (1965), and Weasel Words: Saying What You Don't Mean (1978).

Pei wrote The America We Lost: The Concerns of a Conservative (1968), a book advocating individualism and constitutional literalism. In the book, Pei denounces the income tax as well as communism and other forms of collectivism.

Pei was also an internationalist and advocated the introduction of Esperanto into school curricula across the world to supplement local languages.

He died on March 2, 1978. Arrangements were made with George Van Tassel's Community Funeral Home in Bloomfield, N.J., and burial at St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx followed.

Pei and Esperanto

Pei was fond of Esperanto, an international auxiliary language. He wrote his positive views on it in his book called One Language for the World. He also wrote a 21-page pamphlet entirely on world language and Esperanto called Wanted: a World Language.

Quotes

Value of neologisms

Noting that neologisms are of immense value to the continued existence of a living language, as most words are developed as neologisms from root words, Pei stated in The Story of Language:

Of all the words that exist in any language only a bare minority are pure, unadulterated, original roots. The majority are "coined" words, forms that have been in one way or another created, augmented, cut down, combined, and recombined to convey new needed meanings. The language mint is more than a mint; it is a great manufacturing center, where all sorts of productive activities go on unceasingly.[3]

Creative innovation and slang

While slang may be condemned by purists and schoolteachers, it should be remembered that it is a monument to the language's force of growth by creative innovation, a living example of the democratic, normally anonymous process of language change, and the chief means whereby all the languages spoken today have evolved from earlier tongues.[3]

Works

Other

  • The American road to peace: a constitution for the world, 1945, S.F. Vanni
  • Introduction to Ada Boni, Talisman Italian Cookbook. 1950. Crown Publishers
  • Swords of Anjou, 1953, John Day Company. Pei's first and only novel, praised in HISPANICA [1953] as "an admirable combination of absorbing narrative and sound scholarship ..."
  • THE CONSUMER'S MANIFESTO: A Bill Of Rights to Protect the Consumer in the Wars Between Capital and Labor, 1960, Crown Publishers
  • Our National Heritage, 1965, Houghton Mifflin
  • America We Lost: The Concerns of a Conservative, 1968, World Publishing
  • Tales of the natural and supernatural,, 1971, Devin-Adair

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Saxon, Wolfgang (5 March 1978). "Mario Andrew Pei, Linguist, Dies at 77". The New York Times. p. 36.
  2. ^ "Mario Pei | American linguist". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b WordSpy 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

January 03, 2023
mario, mario, andrew, february, 1901, march, 1978, italian, born, american, linguist, polyglot, wrote, number, popular, books, known, their, accessibility, readers, without, professional, background, linguistics, book, story, language, 1949, acclaimed, present. Mario Andrew Pei February 16 1901 March 2 1978 was an Italian born American linguist and polyglot who wrote a number of popular books known for their accessibility to readers without a professional background in linguistics His book The Story of Language 1949 was acclaimed for its presentation of technical linguistics concepts in ways that were entertaining and accessible to a general audience 1 Mario PeiBorn 1901 02 16 February 16 1901Rome ItalyDiedMarch 2 1978 1978 03 02 aged 77 Glen Ridge New Jersey U S Known forPopular linguisticsPei was a supporter of uniting humans under one language and in 1958 published a book entitled One Language For the World and How to Achieve It and sent a copy to the leader of every nation in existence at the time The book argued that the United Nations should select one language regardless of whether it was an existing natural language like English or a constructed language like Esperanto and require it to be taught as a second language to every schoolchild in the world 1 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Pei and Esperanto 3 Quotes 3 1 Value of neologisms 3 2 Creative innovation and slang 4 Works 4 1 Language 4 2 Discography 4 3 Other 5 See also 6 NotesLife and career EditPei was born in Rome Italy and emigrated to the United States with his mother in order to join his father in April 1908 By the time that he was out of high school he spoke not only English and his native Italian but also French and had studied Latin as well Over the years he became fluent in several other languages including Spanish Portuguese Russian and German capable of speaking some thirty others having become acquainted with the structure of at least one hundred of the world s languages In 1923 he began his career teaching languages at City College of New York and in 1928 he published his translation of Vittorio Ermete de Fiori s Mussolini The Man of Destiny Pei received a PhD from Columbia University in 1937 focusing on Sanskrit Old Church Slavonic and Old French 2 That year he joined the Department of Romance Languages at Columbia University becoming a full professor in 1952 In 1941 he published his first language book The Italian Language His facility with languages was in demand in World War II and Pei served as a language consultant with two agencies of the Department of War citation needed In this role he wrote language textbooks developed language courses and wrote language guidebooks While working as a professor of Romance Philology at Columbia University Pei wrote over 50 books including the best sellers The Story of Language 1949 and The Story of English 1952 His other books included Languages for War and Peace 1943 later retitled The World s Chief Languages A Dictionary of Linguistics written with Frank Gaynor 1954 All About Language 1954 Invitation to Linguistics A Basic Introduction to the Science of Language 1965 and Weasel Words Saying What You Don t Mean 1978 Pei wrote The America We Lost The Concerns of a Conservative 1968 a book advocating individualism and constitutional literalism In the book Pei denounces the income tax as well as communism and other forms of collectivism Pei was also an internationalist and advocated the introduction of Esperanto into school curricula across the world to supplement local languages He died on March 2 1978 Arrangements were made with George Van Tassel s Community Funeral Home in Bloomfield N J and burial at St Raymond s Cemetery in the Bronx followed Pei and Esperanto EditPei was fond of Esperanto an international auxiliary language He wrote his positive views on it in his book called One Language for the World He also wrote a 21 page pamphlet entirely on world language and Esperanto called Wanted a World Language Quotes EditValue of neologisms Edit Noting that neologisms are of immense value to the continued existence of a living language as most words are developed as neologisms from root words Pei stated in The Story of Language Of all the words that exist in any language only a bare minority are pure unadulterated original roots The majority are coined words forms that have been in one way or another created augmented cut down combined and recombined to convey new needed meanings The language mint is more than a mint it is a great manufacturing center where all sorts of productive activities go on unceasingly 3 Creative innovation and slang Edit While slang may be condemned by purists and schoolteachers it should be remembered that it is a monument to the language s force of growth by creative innovation a living example of the democratic normally anonymous process of language change and the chief means whereby all the languages spoken today have evolved from earlier tongues 3 Works EditLanguage Edit Languages for War and Peace later retitled The World s Chief Languages 1949 Vanni George Allen amp Unwin One Language for the World 1958 Biblio Moser ISBN 0 8196 0218 3 Wanted a World Language New York 1969 Public Affairs Committee French Precursors of the Chanson de Roland 1949 AMS Press Story of Language 1949 Lippincott ISBN 0 397 00400 1 All About Language 1950 Lippincott Liberal arts dictionary in English French German and Spanish 1952 Philosophical Library Liberal Arts Dictionary with Frank Gaynor 1952 Philosophical Library A Dictionary Of Linguistics with Frank Gaynor 1954 Philosophical Library Language For Everybody What It Is And How To Master It 1956 New American Library Getting Along in Italian 1958 Bantam Getting Along in Russian 1959 Harper Getting Along in French with John Fisher 1961 Bantam 109 Most Useful Foreign Phrases for the Traveler 1962 Curtis Voices of Man The Meaning and Function of Language 1962 Harper amp Row The Story of English A Modern Approach 1962 Premier Invitation to Linguistics A Basic Introduction to the Science of Language 1965 Doubleday ISBN 0 385 06584 1 Glossary of Linguistic Terminology 1966 Columbia University Press ISBN 0 231 03012 6 Studies In Romance Philology And Literature 1966 Garnett Publishing Words in Sheep s Clothing 1969 Talking Your Way Around the World 1971 Harper Collins ISBN 0 06 013327 9 Getting along in Spanish 1972 Bantam Weasel Words 1972 Harper amp Row How To Learn Languages And What Languages To Learn 1973 Harper amp Row ISBN 0 06 013323 6 Families of Words 1974 St Martins Press 0312280351 Dictionary Of Foreign Terms 1975 Delacorte Press ISBN 0 440 01779 3 What s In A Word Language yesterday today and tomorrow 1975 Universal The Story of Latin and the Romance Languages 1976 Harper Collins ISBN 0 9773264 0 3 New Italian Self Taught 1982 Harpercollins ISBN 0 06 463616 X Discography Edit Medieval Romance Poetry 1961 Folkways Records One Language for the World 1961 Folkways Getting Along in Russian Vol 1 1962 Folkways Getting Along in Russian Vol 2 1962 Folkways Getting Along in French Vol 1 1962 Folkways Readings in Church Latin Caesar and Cicero Read by Dr Mario A Pei 1962 Folkways Readings in Church Latin Virgil and Horace Read by Dr Mario A Pei 1962 Folkways Getting Along in English Vol 1 1964 Folkways Other Edit The American road to peace a constitution for the world 1945 S F Vanni Introduction to Ada Boni Talisman Italian Cookbook 1950 Crown Publishers Swords of Anjou 1953 John Day Company Pei s first and only novel praised in HISPANICA 1953 as an admirable combination of absorbing narrative and sound scholarship THE CONSUMER S MANIFESTO A Bill Of Rights to Protect the Consumer in the Wars Between Capital and Labor 1960 Crown Publishers Our National Heritage 1965 Houghton Mifflin America We Lost The Concerns of a Conservative 1968 World Publishing Tales of the natural and supernatural 1971 Devin AdairSee also EditRemarks on the Esperanto Symposium Mario Pei On Esperanto Education One Language For The World Pei Discography at Smithsonian FolkwaysNotes Edit a b Saxon Wolfgang 5 March 1978 Mario Andrew Pei Linguist Dies at 77 The New York Times p 36 Mario Pei American linguist Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 31 December 2016 a b WordSpy Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mario Pei amp oldid 1117252723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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