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Robert Blust

February 04, 2023

Robert A. Blust (/blʌst/; Chinese: 白樂思; pinyin: Bái Lèsī; May 9, 1940 – January 5, 2022[1][2][3]) was an American linguist who worked in several areas, including historical linguistics, lexicography and ethnology. He was Professor of Linguistics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Blust specialized in the Austronesian languages and made major contributions to the field of Austronesian linguistics.

Robert Blust
Blust in 2017
Born
Robert Andrew Blust

(1940-05-09)May 9, 1940
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJanuary 5, 2022(2022-01-05) (aged 81)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBái Lèsī (白樂思)
Academic background
EducationB.A. in Anthropology (1967),

M.A. in Linguistics (1968),

PhD in Linguistics (1974), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
ThesisThe Proto-North Sarawak Vowel Deletion Hypothesis (1974)
Doctoral advisorGeorge W. Grace
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Leiden University
Notable studentsK. Alexander Adelaar
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese白樂思
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBái Lèsī
Websitewww.ling.hawaii.edu/faculty/blust/

Early life and career

Blust was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 9, 1940,[4] and raised in California. He received both a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology in 1967 and a PhD in linguistics in 1974 from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.[5] He taught at Leiden University in The Netherlands from 1976 to 1984, after which he returned to the Department of Linguistics at Mānoa for the rest of his career, serving as department chair from 2005 to 2008.[4] He was a Fellow of the Linguistic Society of America.[6]

Austronesian languages

Until 2018, he served as the review editor for Oceanic Linguistics, an academic journal that covers the Austronesian languages. Blust is best known for his work on this large language family, including the comprehensive Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (1995) and a Thao-English dictionary (2003). Another one of his well-known works is a 2009 work called The Austronesian Languages, which is the first single-authored book to cover all aspects (phonology, syntax, morphology, sound changes, classification, etc.) of the Austronesian language family in its entirety.

Field work

As part of his field work, Blust studied 97 Austronesian languages spoken in locations such as Sarawak, Papua New Guinea, and Taiwan. In Taiwan, he performed field work on Formosan languages such as Thao, Kavalan, Pazeh, Amis, Paiwan and Saisiyat. His dictionary of the highly-endangered Thao language, at over 1100 pages, is one of the most complete ever compiled for a Formosan language. Blust also had an abiding research interest in both linguistic and cultural aspects of rainbows and dragons.

Personal life and death

Blust died in Honolulu, Hawaii, on January 5, 2022, at the age of 81, after a 13-year battle with cancer.[2]

See also

Selected publications

  • Blust, Robert (1974). The Proto-North-Sarawak vowel deletion hypothesis (PhD). University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
  • Blust, Robert (1977). "The Proto-Austronesian pronouns and Austronesian subgrouping: a preliminary report". University of Hawaiʻi Working Papers in Linguistics. 9 (2): 1–15.
  • Blust, Robert (1988). Austronesian Root Theory: An Essay on the Limits of Morphology. John Benjamins Publishing. ISBN 90-272-3020-X.
  • Blust, Robert (1993). "*s metathesis and the Formosan/Malayo-Polynesian language boundary". In Dahl, Øyvind (ed.). Language, a Doorway Between Human Cultures: Tributes to Dr. Otto Chr. Dahl on His Ninetieth Birthday. Novus Forlag. ISBN 978-82-7099-205-8.
  • Blust, Robert (1995). "The position of the Formosan languages: method and theory in Austronesian comparative linguistics". In Li, Paul Jen-kuei; Tsang, Cheng-hwa; Huang, Ying-kuei; Ho, Dah-an; Tseng, Chiu-yu (eds.). Austronesian Studies Relating to Taiwan. Symposium Series of the Institute of History and Philology. Vol. 3. Taipei: Academia Sinica. pp. 585–650.
  • Blust, Robert (December 1996). "Some Remarks on the Linguistic Position of Thao". Oceanic Linguistics. University of Hawaiʻi Press. 35 (2): 272. doi:10.2307/3623175. JSTOR 3623175.
  • Blust, Robert (1999). "Notes on Pazeh Phonology and Morphology". Oceanic Linguistics. University of Hawaiʻi Press. 38 (2): 321–365. doi:10.2307/3623296. JSTOR 3623296.
  • Blust, Robert (2003). "Three Notes on Early Austronesian Morphology". Oceanic Linguistics. University of Hawaiʻi Press. 42 (2): 438–478. doi:10.2307/3623246. JSTOR 3623246.
  • Blust, Robert (2003). (PDF). Language and Linguistics, Monograph Series A5. Taipei: Institute of Linguistics (Preparatory Office), Academia Sinica. ISBN 978-957-01-4785-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 21, 2022.
  • Blust, Robert (2003). A short morphology, phonology and vocabulary of Kiput, Sarawak. Shorter Grammars. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University. doi:10.15144/PL-546. hdl:1885/146714. ISBN 0858835363.
  • Blust, Robert A. (2005). "Must sound change be linguistically motivated?". Diachronica. John Benjamins. 22 (2): 219–269. doi:10.1075/dia.22.2.02blu. ISSN 1569-9714.
  • Blust, Robert (2006). "The Origin of the Kelabit Voiced Aspirates: A Historical Hypothesis Revisited". Oceanic Linguistics. University of Hawaiʻi Press. 45 (2): 311–338. doi:10.1353/ol.2007.0001. JSTOR 4499967.
  • Blust, Robert (2009). The Austronesian languages. Pacific Linguistics, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-85883-602-0.
  • Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen. "The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary".

References

  1. ^ Lobel, Jason William (2022). "In Memoriam: Dr. Robert A. Blust, 1940–2022". Obituary. Language and Linguistics. 23 (2): 141–146. doi:10.1075/lali.00116.lob.
  2. ^ a b Lobel, Jason William, Victoria Chen and Lani Blust-Char (2022). "In Memoriam: Robert A. Blust, 1940–2022". Oceanic Linguistics. 61 (2): 614–649.
  3. ^ "Editorial". Language & Linguistics in Melanesia. Linguistic Society of Papua New Guinea. 40. January 7, 2022. ISSN 0023-1959.
  4. ^ a b Adelaar, Alexander; Pawley, Andrew, eds. (2009). "Reflections on Bob Blust's career". Austronesian historical linguistics and culture history: a festschrift for Robert Blust. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University. p. 3. doi:10.15144/PL-601. hdl:1885/34582. ISBN 9780858836013.
  5. ^ "About". Robert Blust. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "LSA Fellows by Name". Linguistic Society of America.
  • Zeitoun, Elizabeth (2007). "Three Western scholars' contributions to Formosan linguistics" (PDF). The International Conference for the 100th anniversary of linguistics in Taiwan: In honor of the linguistics pioneer Professor Naoyosi Ogawa. National Taichung University of Education.
  • "Robert A. Blust". University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Linguistics Department. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  • Townsend, Bethany. . Linguist of the Day. LinguistList. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013.
  • (in Chinese). Archived from the original on May 13, 2021.
  • Chen, Victoria (February 21, 2022). "In Memoriam: Dr. Robert A. Blust, 1940–2022". Taiwan Insight.

External links

  • Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (ACD) by Robert Blust and Stephen Trussel (web edition)

February 04, 2023
robert, blust, robert, blust, chinese, 白樂思, pinyin, bái, lèsī, 1940, january, 2022, american, linguist, worked, several, areas, including, historical, linguistics, lexicography, ethnology, professor, linguistics, university, hawaiʻi, mānoa, blust, specialized,. Robert A Blust b l ʌ s t Chinese 白樂思 pinyin Bai Lesi May 9 1940 January 5 2022 1 2 3 was an American linguist who worked in several areas including historical linguistics lexicography and ethnology He was Professor of Linguistics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Blust specialized in the Austronesian languages and made major contributions to the field of Austronesian linguistics Robert BlustBlust in 2017BornRobert Andrew Blust 1940 05 09 May 9 1940Cincinnati Ohio U S DiedJanuary 5 2022 2022 01 05 aged 81 Honolulu Hawaii U S NationalityAmericanOther namesBai Lesi 白樂思 Academic backgroundEducationB A in Anthropology 1967 M A in Linguistics 1968 PhD in Linguistics 1974 University of Hawaiʻi at ManoaThesisThe Proto North Sarawak Vowel Deletion Hypothesis 1974 Doctoral advisorGeorge W GraceAcademic workInstitutionsUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Leiden UniversityNotable studentsK Alexander AdelaarChinese nameTraditional Chinese白樂思TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinBai LesiWebsitewww wbr ling wbr hawaii wbr edu wbr faculty wbr blust wbr Contents 1 Early life and career 1 1 Austronesian languages 1 2 Field work 2 Personal life and death 3 See also 4 Selected publications 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and career EditBlust was born in Cincinnati Ohio on May 9 1940 4 and raised in California He received both a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology in 1967 and a PhD in linguistics in 1974 from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa 5 He taught at Leiden University in The Netherlands from 1976 to 1984 after which he returned to the Department of Linguistics at Manoa for the rest of his career serving as department chair from 2005 to 2008 4 He was a Fellow of the Linguistic Society of America 6 Austronesian languages Edit Until 2018 he served as the review editor for Oceanic Linguistics an academic journal that covers the Austronesian languages Blust is best known for his work on this large language family including the comprehensive Austronesian Comparative Dictionary 1995 and a Thao English dictionary 2003 Another one of his well known works is a 2009 work called The Austronesian Languages which is the first single authored book to cover all aspects phonology syntax morphology sound changes classification etc of the Austronesian language family in its entirety Field work Edit As part of his field work Blust studied 97 Austronesian languages spoken in locations such as Sarawak Papua New Guinea and Taiwan In Taiwan he performed field work on Formosan languages such as Thao Kavalan Pazeh Amis Paiwan and Saisiyat His dictionary of the highly endangered Thao language at over 1100 pages is one of the most complete ever compiled for a Formosan language Blust also had an abiding research interest in both linguistic and cultural aspects of rainbows and dragons Personal life and death EditBlust died in Honolulu Hawaii on January 5 2022 at the age of 81 after a 13 year battle with cancer 2 See also EditAustronesian HypothesisSelected publications EditBlust Robert 1974 The Proto North Sarawak vowel deletion hypothesis PhD University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Blust Robert 1977 The Proto Austronesian pronouns and Austronesian subgrouping a preliminary report University of Hawaiʻi Working Papers in Linguistics 9 2 1 15 Blust Robert 1988 Austronesian Root Theory An Essay on the Limits of Morphology John Benjamins Publishing ISBN 90 272 3020 X Blust Robert 1993 s metathesis and the Formosan Malayo Polynesian language boundary In Dahl Oyvind ed Language a Doorway Between Human Cultures Tributes to Dr Otto Chr Dahl on His Ninetieth Birthday Novus Forlag ISBN 978 82 7099 205 8 Blust Robert 1995 The position of the Formosan languages method and theory in Austronesian comparative linguistics In Li Paul Jen kuei Tsang Cheng hwa Huang Ying kuei Ho Dah an Tseng Chiu yu eds Austronesian Studies Relating to Taiwan Symposium Series of the Institute of History and Philology Vol 3 Taipei Academia Sinica pp 585 650 Blust Robert December 1996 Some Remarks on the Linguistic Position of Thao Oceanic Linguistics University of Hawaiʻi Press 35 2 272 doi 10 2307 3623175 JSTOR 3623175 Blust Robert 1999 Notes on Pazeh Phonology and Morphology Oceanic Linguistics University of Hawaiʻi Press 38 2 321 365 doi 10 2307 3623296 JSTOR 3623296 Blust Robert 2003 Three Notes on Early Austronesian Morphology Oceanic Linguistics University of Hawaiʻi Press 42 2 438 478 doi 10 2307 3623246 JSTOR 3623246 Blust Robert 2003 Thao Dictionary PDF Language and Linguistics Monograph Series A5 Taipei Institute of Linguistics Preparatory Office Academia Sinica ISBN 978 957 01 4785 8 Archived from the original PDF on January 21 2022 Blust Robert 2003 A short morphology phonology and vocabulary of Kiput Sarawak Shorter Grammars Canberra Pacific Linguistics Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies Australian National University doi 10 15144 PL 546 hdl 1885 146714 ISBN 0858835363 Blust Robert A 2005 Must sound change be linguistically motivated Diachronica John Benjamins 22 2 219 269 doi 10 1075 dia 22 2 02blu ISSN 1569 9714 Blust Robert 2006 The Origin of the Kelabit Voiced Aspirates A Historical Hypothesis Revisited Oceanic Linguistics University of Hawaiʻi Press 45 2 311 338 doi 10 1353 ol 2007 0001 JSTOR 4499967 Blust Robert 2009 The Austronesian languages Pacific Linguistics Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies The Australian National University ISBN 978 0 85883 602 0 Blust Robert Trussel Stephen The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary References Edit Lobel Jason William 2022 In Memoriam Dr Robert A Blust 1940 2022 Obituary Language and Linguistics 23 2 141 146 doi 10 1075 lali 00116 lob a b Lobel Jason William Victoria Chen and Lani Blust Char 2022 In Memoriam Robert A Blust 1940 2022 Oceanic Linguistics 61 2 614 649 Editorial Language amp Linguistics in Melanesia Linguistic Society of Papua New Guinea 40 January 7 2022 ISSN 0023 1959 a b Adelaar Alexander Pawley Andrew eds 2009 Reflections on Bob Blust s career Austronesian historical linguistics and culture history a festschrift for Robert Blust Canberra Pacific Linguistics Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies Australian National University p 3 doi 10 15144 PL 601 hdl 1885 34582 ISBN 9780858836013 About Robert Blust Retrieved January 11 2021 LSA Fellows by Name Linguistic Society of America Zeitoun Elizabeth 2007 Three Western scholars contributions to Formosan linguistics PDF The International Conference for the 100th anniversary of linguistics in Taiwan In honor of the linguistics pioneer Professor Naoyosi Ogawa National Taichung University of Education Robert A Blust University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Linguistics Department Retrieved February 18 2022 Townsend Bethany Robert Blust Linguist of the Day LinguistList Archived from the original on December 21 2013 Dictionary of Taiwan Aboriginal History Language and Culture in Chinese Archived from the original on May 13 2021 Chen Victoria February 21 2022 In Memoriam Dr Robert A Blust 1940 2022 Taiwan Insight External links EditAustronesian Comparative Dictionary ACD by Robert Blust and Stephen Trussel web edition Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Blust amp oldid 1132589890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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