Herbert Pilch (13 February 1927 – 19 April 2018) was a German
linguist
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...
and
celtologist. He was a professor of English language and literature at the
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg (colloquially german: Uni Freiburg), officially the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg (german: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg), is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemb ...
. His contributions to linguistics included a theory of
phoneme
In phonology and linguistics, a phoneme () is a unit of sound that can distinguish one word from another in a particular language.
For example, in most dialects of English, with the notable exception of the West Midlands and the north-wes ...
s and studies of
Basel German Basel German or Baseldytsch (Standard German: ''Baseldeutsch'') is the dialect of the city of Basel, Switzerland.
The dialect of Basel forms a Low Alemannic linguistic exclave in the High Alemannic region.
Phonetics and phonology Consonants ...
. His main work is the ''Manual of English Phonetics''. In 2008 he was awarded the
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...
.
Works
* ''Phonemtheorie'' (Basel 1964)
* ''Empirical Linguistics'' (Munich 1976)
* ''Manual of English Phonetics'' (Munich 1994)
* ''Altenglischer Lehrgang + Altenglische Grammatik'' (Munich 1970)
* ''Sound, Sense, and System. Herbert Pilch and Postwar German Studies in English Linguistics'' (1955–1985) (Heidelberg 1987)
* ''Die keltischen Sprachen und Literaturen'' (Heidelberg 2007)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilch, Herbert
1927 births
2018 deaths
People from Gvardeysky District
People from East Prussia
Linguists from Germany
Phoneticians
Phonologists
Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany