In memoriam Rūdolfas Grabis (1906–1996)

rė and published "Lithuanian Spelling Dictionary for Schools" (6 editions were published in 1956-1980), with Pr. Kniūkšta — "Teaching Dictionary of Lithuanian Spelling and Pronunciation" (4 editions were published in 1983-1996), with V. Kosuchinas — "Lithuanian-Russian Language Dictionary" (1956), with K. Gaivenis and V. Šerna — "School Lithuanian-Russian Language Dictionary" (1985). A. Lyberis also compiled a larger Lithuanian-Russian dictionary for the general public, the first edition of which (1962) contained about 37,000 words, and the second edition (1989), which 65000 was revised and supplemented, about 100,000 words. As a student, A. Lyberis began to collaborate with “Naujoji Romuva” (perhaps his first publication, which appeared in 1935, introduced the public to J. Jablonskio Raštai, published by J. Balčikonis- ), and later published a number of articles in scientific publications and periodicals on Lithuanian lexicography, lexicology, terminology, language culture and other issues, significant memories from the history of Lithuanian linguistics and about individual linguists. On November 6, 1996, Lybers met his 87th birthday after almost six years of severe illness, and November 22 was the last day of his life. In Vilnius Karveliskiai cemetery a large group of relatives, students, colleagues and friends said goodbye to a long-time, beautifully accomplished linguist, a teacher and a man of bright memory. Antanas Lyberis and his works have entered into the history of Lithuanian linguistics. IN MEMORIAM RUDOLFAS GRABIS (1906-1996) 1996 was a year of painful losses for Latvian linguists: professor Marta Rudzyte of the University of Latvia left her beloved field of research too early, a Latgalian who had grown up in emigration did not finish the work he had begun, professor Valdis Zepas of the University of Wisconsin, who had celebrated his ninetyth birthday beautifully, and Rūdolfs Grabis, one of the most famous Latvian language researchers of the last decades, who had completed his earthly journey decorated with valuable works, also passed away on December 17. R. Grabis was born on August 11, 1906 in Grigzai, in the former Kūdumo village (Cėsių district). He graduated from the University of Latvia in 1934. His teachers were Anna Abele, Ludvis Berzins, Janis Endzelyns and other prominent Latvian philologists of the time. In 1931, in the journal of the Latvian Philological Society “Filologu biedribas raksti”, edited by J. Endzelyns, was published the first serious publication of R. Grabis, still a student, a description of his native dialect (“Kūduma pagasta izloksnes apraksts- ”). In 1935 the same journal published another dialectological article by R. Grabis “Notes on Straupes parish dialects” (“Piezimes par Straupes draudzes izloksnē”). He taught at Riga Gymnasium and Riga Teachers' Institute. 278 He co-authored the Latvian textbook for schools “Word and Sentence” (“Vards un teikums”) which has been published several times. From 1945 to 1947 he was a professor at the University of Latvia. In 1946 J. Endzelynas invited R. Grabis to work at the newly established Institute of Language and Literature of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. For almost thirty years he was the actual head of the linguistics department of this institute. In 1970-1974 he was also the deputy director of the institute. A group of linguists led by R. Grabis prepared the most comprehensive description of the structure of the present Latvian language “Grammar of the present Latvian literary language” (“Misdienu latviešu literaras valodas gramatika”, I-II, Riga, 1959, 1962). In 1965, Grabis and other authors were awarded the Latvian State Prize for this work. R. Grabis also led the work of Latvian terminologists. In 1963, he and Dzidra Barbara and Anna Bergmane prepared and published the “Dictionary of Terms of the Language” (“Valodniecibas terminu vardnica”, Riga, 1963). He was also the chairman of the editorial board of the most important work of Latvian lexicography in the post-war period, the Latvian literary language dictionary (Latviešu literaras valodas vardnica, 1-8, Riga, 1972-1996). He has published valuable studies on the history of Latvian language. First of all, his study “Overview of the grammar of the Latvian language in the 17th century” (“Parskats par 17. gadsimta latviešu valodas gramatikam” —Valodas un literatūras institūta raksti, V, 1955, pp. 205-266) is to be mentioned here. After his retirement, the linguist maintained very close ties with his native Kūdum. After a break of exactly sixty years, he returned to the subject of his youth and published as a continuation of his first linguistic publication “Kūduma izloksnes teksti” (“Kūduma dialect texts”, Riga, 1991). People who have had the opportunity to communicate with this Latvian speaker will always remember him as a sweet, sincere person. In addition to his native language, Grabis loved Latvian folk songs. From his mother’s accounts, the linguist remembered that he repeated the melodies of these songs perfectly even when he was not yet able to pronounce the words of these songs. In 1968 he was elected a corresponding member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, and in 1992 an honorary member. Rudolf Grabis died in Riga. He was buried in the Second Forest Cemetery. Let him have a light native sand. Algirdas Sabaliauskas 279