SAJANDID KÄEULATUSES: VANAD GRAMMATIKAD EESTI KEELES
Centuries within one’s reach: Translations of old Estonian grammars

Summary/Abstract: The article analyses the Estonian translations of 17th–19th-century grammars of the Estonian language written in foreign languages and the new editions of multilingual glossaries included in those grammars. The article mainly concentrates on Heinrich Gösekeni grammatika ja sõnastik 350 [Heinrich Göseken’s Grammar and Glossary 350] by V.-L. Kingisepp, K. Ress, and K.Tafenau (Tartu, 2010), but it also deals with M. Lepajõe’s translation of Gutslaff’s grammar (J. Gutslaff, Observationis grammaticae circa linguam Esthonicam. Grammatilisi vaatlusi eesti keelest [Grammatical Observations of the Estonian Language], Tartu, 1998); I. Annom’s translation of F. J. Wiedemann’s Uurimus Võru murdest [A Study of the Võru Dialect] (Tartu, 2002); K. Kikas’ study Mida sisaldab Heinrich Stahli Vocabula? [What Does H. Stahl’s Vocabula Include?] (Tartu, 2002); E. Ahrens’ grammar translated by K. Ross et al. in the book Uue ajastu misjonilingvist. Eduard Ahrens 200 [A Missionary Linguist of the New Era. Eduard Ahrens 200] (Tallinn, 2003); and the translation of Thor Helle’s grammar by A. Kilk and K. Ross in their book Lühike sissejuhatus eesti keelde 1732 [A Short Introduction to the Estonian Language 1732] (Tallinn, 2006). The article gives a critical observation of the structure and comments to the translated works and discusses different solutions for translating old terminology, explaining archaic Estonian, and disclosing the linguistic riches of the glossaries.

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