Abstract

Institute of the Lithuanian Language At the beginning of the 19th century, the financial possibility to establish a department of Eastern languages at one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe, Vilnius University, appeared. Turkish was among the Eastern languages that were expected to be taught. The intensive preparation of lecturers was started. Unfortunately, the ambitious plans were destined to never become reality; in 1832 the university was closed. Nevertheless, over the following two centuries the Turkic direction did not disappear; in one form or another it surfaced and retained its vitality. There was a sympathetic environment: Tartars and Karaims—both Turkic ethnic groups—began settling in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century. Vilnius University was the cradle of many famous Orientalists who maintained Turkic research by their activities. In such a way, two main research subjects appeared: Kitabistik and the Karaim language. In this article, the origin problems, development and prospects of Turkic research will be examined.

Highlights

  • Vilnius University, one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe, was opened in 1579

  • The Faculty of Oriental Language Studies was to be opened in the early 19th century

  • In 1822 Kazimierz Kontrym prepared a draft concerning the establishment of an Institute of Oriental Languages

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Vilnius University, one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe, was opened in 1579. Projects on the foundation within Vilnius University of a separate institute of Oriental Languages in which Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Mongol and Armenian would be taught could not be implemented immediately due to the lack of corresponding staff.

Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call