Jespersen, (Jens) Otto (Harry) (1860–1943)

Danish linguist. At the beginning of his career he was concerned with phonetics and comparative philology. Later his enormous contribution to the study of English occupied much of his time, but he also worked on general linguistic theory and on syntax (the rules governing the way words are put together in sentences). He is the author of the classic seven-volume Modern English Grammar 1909–49.

He wrote, for example, on traditional ‘notional’ grammar, which assumes that there are universal categories of grammar that apply to all languages, such as the parts of speech – nouns, verbs, and so on, and tense and mood. His other works include Language 1922 and The Philosophy of Grammar 1924.

He was professor of English at Copenhagen University 1893–1925.