Category
Topic
Year
The public debate of 1967–1968 around the Estonian Literary Museum and the humanities
Keywords: folkloristics,, history of science, 1960s, humanities, information technology, Estonian Literary Museum, Estonian Folklore Archives
The article recollects a debate between humanities scholars published in two Estonian newspapers – Sirp ja Vasar and Edasi – in 1967 and 1968. One of the main issues was the prospective implementation of computers and information technology in the preservation of humnities collections as well as in data processing and retrieval in the Estonian SSR. The other hub of the discussion was the Fr. R. Kreutzwald National Literay Museum at the ESSR Academy of Sciences and its folklore department (Estonian Folklore Archives), also touching upon the problems and functions of the…
The article recollects a debate between humanities scholars published in two Estonian newspapers – Sirp ja Vasar and Edasi – in 1967 and 1968. One of the main issues was the prospective implementation of computers and information technology in the preservation of humnities collections as well as in data processing and retrieval in the Estonian SSR. The other hub of the discussion was the Fr. R. Kreutzwald National Literay Museum at the ESSR Academy of Sciences and its folklore department (Estonian Folklore Archives), also touching upon the problems and functions of the…
On the semantics of tüvitekst
Keywords: core text, base text, classic, archi-text, rhizome, structure, literature
The article discusses the synonyms, equivalents and connotations of the Estonian term tüvitekst ’core text, seminal text; lit. stem text’, which in the new century has gained popularity both in Estonian criticism and in the Estonian media. The notion was first introduced in Estonia by orientalist Linnart Mäll, who studied and translated the basic works of Oriental thought, which he called humanistic base texts. These are fundamental classical texts that consolidate the past and build the future by shaping the mentality of communities and the discourses to follow. Literary scholar Jaan Undusk…
The article discusses the synonyms, equivalents and connotations of the Estonian term tüvitekst ’core text, seminal text; lit. stem text’, which in the new century has gained popularity both in Estonian criticism and in the Estonian media. The notion was first introduced in Estonia by orientalist Linnart Mäll, who studied and translated the basic works of Oriental thought, which he called humanistic base texts. These are fundamental classical texts that consolidate the past and build the future by shaping the mentality of communities and the discourses to follow. Literary scholar Jaan Undusk…
The Finnish-Estonian linguistic bridge in the 21st century
Keywords: knowledge of language(s), multilingualism, foreign language learning, Finnish language learning, language prestige
Traditionally, the metaphor of a Finnish-Estonian „linguistic bridge” has been used to refer to the competence in both languages on either side of the Gulf of Finland. The focus of this article is on the teaching of and competence in Finnish on the Estonian side. Over the recent 75 years the numbers of the Estonian people skilled in Finnish has grown from 0.5 % of the population in 1934 to 12.9 % in 2011, that is from 5729 to 167 315 people. This growth of Finnish proficiency in Estonians has to…
Traditionally, the metaphor of a Finnish-Estonian „linguistic bridge” has been used to refer to the competence in both languages on either side of the Gulf of Finland. The focus of this article is on the teaching of and competence in Finnish on the Estonian side. Over the recent 75 years the numbers of the Estonian people skilled in Finnish has grown from 0.5 % of the population in 1934 to 12.9 % in 2011, that is from 5729 to 167 315 people. This growth of Finnish proficiency in Estonians has to…
Biographies and generational patterns
Keywords: biographical agency, pivotal time, generation of the 1970s, narrative patterns
The article scrutinises the autobiographical stories told by people born in the 1970s. The chosen group spent their adolescent formative years in the whirlwind of the social changes characteristic of Estonia in the 1990s and they found themselves in high positions at an unusually early age, enjoying upward social mobility. The analysis is based on stories elicited from qualitative interviews (biographical, focus-group and in-depth interviews). Specifically, the analysis focused on how the interviewees saw their own role, or agency, and to what extent they referenced the developments in their lives…
The article scrutinises the autobiographical stories told by people born in the 1970s. The chosen group spent their adolescent formative years in the whirlwind of the social changes characteristic of Estonia in the 1990s and they found themselves in high positions at an unusually early age, enjoying upward social mobility. The analysis is based on stories elicited from qualitative interviews (biographical, focus-group and in-depth interviews). Specifically, the analysis focused on how the interviewees saw their own role, or agency, and to what extent they referenced the developments in their lives…
The possibilities of autotheory between theory and life writing
Keywords: life writing, embodied theory, affect theory
The article focuses on texts that can be classified as autotheoretical, that is, they are autobiographical texts that simultaneously interrogate theoretical issues and, by their genre liminality, seek to articulate otherwise muted phenomena. The autotheoretical practice of the 2000s can be seen as a continuation of feminist personal criticism of the 1970s–1980s, such as the work of Jane Tompkins and Nancy K. Miller, and an attempt to develop forms of writing outside the prevalent academic hermeneutics of suspicion. Proceeding from the work of Mieke Bal, Roland Barthes and Adriana Cavarero, the article aims to…
The article focuses on texts that can be classified as autotheoretical, that is, they are autobiographical texts that simultaneously interrogate theoretical issues and, by their genre liminality, seek to articulate otherwise muted phenomena. The autotheoretical practice of the 2000s can be seen as a continuation of feminist personal criticism of the 1970s–1980s, such as the work of Jane Tompkins and Nancy K. Miller, and an attempt to develop forms of writing outside the prevalent academic hermeneutics of suspicion. Proceeding from the work of Mieke Bal, Roland Barthes and Adriana Cavarero, the article aims to…
Peter Pilsky’s life-creation strategies
Keywords: life-creation, Russian Silver Age, pseudonyms, Peter Pilsky
The article deals with the problem of life-creation (zhiznetvorchestvo) on the example of Peter Pilsky’s biography. Life-creation was one of the most significant phenomena of the Russian Silver Age, where being an artist meant absolutely no separation between the person and the author (tvorets ’creator’) in him, i.e. between one’s personal and artistic lives. The article shows how the literary and theatre critic Peter Pilsky formed his „external” biography according to the requirements of the time. In conformity with the credo of life-creation Pilsky pursued his own aesthetic canon: to be an educated…
The article deals with the problem of life-creation (zhiznetvorchestvo) on the example of Peter Pilsky’s biography. Life-creation was one of the most significant phenomena of the Russian Silver Age, where being an artist meant absolutely no separation between the person and the author (tvorets ’creator’) in him, i.e. between one’s personal and artistic lives. The article shows how the literary and theatre critic Peter Pilsky formed his „external” biography according to the requirements of the time. In conformity with the credo of life-creation Pilsky pursued his own aesthetic canon: to be an educated…
An unfinished life – the biography of Aino Kallas
Keywords: Aino Kallas, biography, literary relations between Finland and Estonia
In the 21st century, Aino Kallas has become one of the most famous female authors in Finnish literary studies. A traditional biography of Kallas had not, however, been published until now.
An artist biography is nowadays a popular nonfiction genre. In recent years, various kinds of biographical questions and aspects have also become more popular in humanities research.
In the new biography (called Aino Kallas. Maailman sydämessä, 2017), Aino Kallas is described as a Finnish-Estonian author, whose authorial figure is very different in Finland and in Estonia. Completely different literary works and themes…
In the 21st century, Aino Kallas has become one of the most famous female authors in Finnish literary studies. A traditional biography of Kallas had not, however, been published until now.
An artist biography is nowadays a popular nonfiction genre. In recent years, various kinds of biographical questions and aspects have also become more popular in humanities research.
In the new biography (called Aino Kallas. Maailman sydämessä, 2017), Aino Kallas is described as a Finnish-Estonian author, whose authorial figure is very different in Finland and in Estonia. Completely different literary works and themes…
A singer telling the story of a singer’s life
Keywords: life writing, vernacular literacy, folkloristics, oral song tradition, singers, performance
The first part of the article discusses the models and examples of vernacular life writing, including the copious material written down for the archives by Marie Sepp (1862–1943), a country woman from Kolga-Jaani in Central Estonia. Marie Sepp also wrote her own life history based on folklorists’ instructions. Her life history reflects the relational self, considered characteristic of a communal agrarian society and of female writers. The rest of her biographical materials represent the oral tradition of (auto)biographical narration, while many of the small stories can be categorised under genres…
The first part of the article discusses the models and examples of vernacular life writing, including the copious material written down for the archives by Marie Sepp (1862–1943), a country woman from Kolga-Jaani in Central Estonia. Marie Sepp also wrote her own life history based on folklorists’ instructions. Her life history reflects the relational self, considered characteristic of a communal agrarian society and of female writers. The rest of her biographical materials represent the oral tradition of (auto)biographical narration, while many of the small stories can be categorised under genres…
Life stories of Jakob Hurt’s folklore correspondents
Keywords: folklore collecting, life writing, Jakob Hurt
The focus of this article is on the life writing practices of the members of Jakob Hurt’s folklore collecting network. Jakob Hurt’s campaign of folklore collecting started in 1888. About a year later he felt that the process of collecting was as important as the collected texts and so he asked his correspondents to send him some details about their lives. Hurt’s aim was to publish a special book about the history of the campaign and the people who participated. Though Hurt never wrote the book, the results of his plea are still interesting…
The focus of this article is on the life writing practices of the members of Jakob Hurt’s folklore collecting network. Jakob Hurt’s campaign of folklore collecting started in 1888. About a year later he felt that the process of collecting was as important as the collected texts and so he asked his correspondents to send him some details about their lives. Hurt’s aim was to publish a special book about the history of the campaign and the people who participated. Though Hurt never wrote the book, the results of his plea are still interesting…
Baltic-German autobiographies as a valuable source material
Keywords: Baltic Germans, translation history, memoirs, memory places
The article addresses Baltic-German autobiographical texts as an organic part of Estonian cultural history and memory literature, which is, however, a severed and forgotten part of the collective historical memory. First, the article introduces the volume of the survived Baltic-German textual heritage, and analyses, in a historical perspective, how, why and on what grounds Baltic-German autobiographies have been collected and published. Secondly, the article examines the available Estonian translations of and the present state of research into Baltic-German autobiographies. Thirdly, some concrete biographies are used to exemplify the variety of possible study approaches.…
The article addresses Baltic-German autobiographical texts as an organic part of Estonian cultural history and memory literature, which is, however, a severed and forgotten part of the collective historical memory. First, the article introduces the volume of the survived Baltic-German textual heritage, and analyses, in a historical perspective, how, why and on what grounds Baltic-German autobiographies have been collected and published. Secondly, the article examines the available Estonian translations of and the present state of research into Baltic-German autobiographies. Thirdly, some concrete biographies are used to exemplify the variety of possible study approaches.…
Stupid Mulks
Keywords: Latvian-Estonian linguistic contact, etymology, microethnonyms, onomastics
The short study „Are Mulks really stupid?” published in the magazine Keel ja Kirjandus (2017/6, pp. 434–452) by Taavi Pae and Kersti Lust attempts to argue that the microethnonym mul´k does not originate in the Latvian common noun muļ΄ķis ‘fool, idiot, softhead’. The present article takes a closer look at the arguments presented by Pae and Lust, concluding that their own conclusions would have been more convincing if based on true knowledge of language history, in particular, of historical derivation, and on better orientation in Baltic materials, all anchored in sound methodological expertise, as the declared aim of their study…
The short study „Are Mulks really stupid?” published in the magazine Keel ja Kirjandus (2017/6, pp. 434–452) by Taavi Pae and Kersti Lust attempts to argue that the microethnonym mul´k does not originate in the Latvian common noun muļ΄ķis ‘fool, idiot, softhead’. The present article takes a closer look at the arguments presented by Pae and Lust, concluding that their own conclusions would have been more convincing if based on true knowledge of language history, in particular, of historical derivation, and on better orientation in Baltic materials, all anchored in sound methodological expertise, as the declared aim of their study…
Estonian adolescent speech I
Keywords: speech corpus, speaking fundamental frequency, voice mutation, age and gender related variations, F0 statistics
The paper introduces the Estonian Adolescent Speech Corpus and reports cross-sectional data on speaking fundamental frequency characteristics of Estonian adolescents. 175 girls and 134 boys in the age range from 9 to 18 years were recorded while reading a text corpus containing linguistically diverse material such as digits, phone numbers, time expressions, IT terms, sentences with name entities, phonetically rich sentences. The corpus also includes several samples of spontaneous speech elicited with pictures to be described and with topics for storytelling. In total, 70 items (ca…
The paper introduces the Estonian Adolescent Speech Corpus and reports cross-sectional data on speaking fundamental frequency characteristics of Estonian adolescents. 175 girls and 134 boys in the age range from 9 to 18 years were recorded while reading a text corpus containing linguistically diverse material such as digits, phone numbers, time expressions, IT terms, sentences with name entities, phonetically rich sentences. The corpus also includes several samples of spontaneous speech elicited with pictures to be described and with topics for storytelling. In total, 70 items (ca…
Harold Bloom’s and Paul de Man’s complementary rhetorical misreadings
Keywords: Estonian literature, anxiety of influence, rhetorics, tropes, irony, misreading
The broader aim of this article is to give an overview of Harold Bloom’s theory of the anxiety of influence and its applicability to analyse Estonian literature. A further objective is to develop a synchronic and diachronic method of literary analysis by confronting Bloom’s theory with the writings of its main contemporary critic Paul de Man. In my opinion, both critics’ different views on rhetoric (de Man: a system of tropes; Bloom: persuasion) are mutually complementary, which I illustrate by using them to analyse two Estonian decadence novels with a similar…
The broader aim of this article is to give an overview of Harold Bloom’s theory of the anxiety of influence and its applicability to analyse Estonian literature. A further objective is to develop a synchronic and diachronic method of literary analysis by confronting Bloom’s theory with the writings of its main contemporary critic Paul de Man. In my opinion, both critics’ different views on rhetoric (de Man: a system of tropes; Bloom: persuasion) are mutually complementary, which I illustrate by using them to analyse two Estonian decadence novels with a similar…