Autographs of Rasmus Rask newly found in Saint Petersburg archives

Abstract

The article discusses recently discovered autographs by the Danish linguist Rasmus Rask in Saint Petersburg archives. It provides new insights into Rask's connections with two young scholars, Ivan Nikolaevič Lobojko and Peter (Petr Ivanovič) Köppen, who were part of Count Nikolaj Petrovič Rumjancev’s circle in Saint Petersburg. It also sheds light on Rask’s relationship with the Copenhagen salon of the poet Juliane Marie Jessen. One of the documents contains Rask’s pioneering ideas about the Lithuanian language. His letters to friends in Saint Petersburg reveal his mental state and scholarly ambitions following his return from a long journey through South Asia. In one letter, Rask encouraged Lobojko
to write a Russian grammar according to the new plan developed by the Danish scholar. In another letter, he explained his decision to work on Spanish grammar when the scholarly public expected a study of Sanskrit and modern languages of South Asia.