Wilhelm Bleek

Wilhelm Bleek

• Born: July 25, 1827, Berlin, Germany
• Died: January 27, 1875, Cape Town, South Africa

Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Resting Place: Klipfontein Cemetery, Cape Town, South Africa

Family

Spouse: Jenny Lewin

Children: Heinrich Bleek, Wilhelmine Bleek

Parents: Friedrich Bleek, Johanna Bleek

Known Relatives: (None known)

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Education

• Humboldt University of Berlin
• University of Bonn

Degrees:

• Ph.D. in linguistics

Occupation:

• Linguist
• Anthropologist

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Connections

All Known affiliates:

• Lucy Lloyd
• N. N. Manthembi
• John Tsontsa

Known peers:

• Carl Meinhof
• Theodor Waitz
• Wilhelm von Humboldt

Known colleagues:

• Lucy Lloyd
• N. N. Manthembi
• John Tsontsa

Mentors:

• Franz Bopp
• Jakob Grimm
• Wilhelm von Humboldt

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Legacy

Bibliography:

• A Comparative Grammar of South African Languages (1862)
• Bleek’s Collected Works (1935)

Achievements:

• Founded the Bleek and Lloyd Archive of ǀxam and KhoeSan texts
• Developed a system for transcribing and translating ǀxam and KhoeSan languages
• Published the first dictionary of ǀxam and KhoeSan languages

Known for:

• His work on ǀxam and KhoeSan languages
• His collaboration with Lucy Lloyd
• His pioneering work in African linguistics

Quotes

• ”Language is the mirror of the mind."
• "The study of language is the study of human thought."
• "The languages of Africa are just as rich and complex as any other languages in the world.”