Biography

Born 27 May 1902, Aleppo. Died on October 3 1976.

Education and professional career

  • 1919 : C.E.S. classical degree
  • 1922 : Agrégation in grammar
  • 1922-1927 : Stay in India as a tutor with the Tata family
  • 1927 : Graduate of the Ecole des Hautes Études (IVe section)
  • 1927-1969 : Director of Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études
  • 1927-1937 : Secretary of the Société asiatique
  • 1935  Docteur ès lettres
  • 1937-1969 : Professor of Comparative Grammar at the Collège de France
  • 1945-1959 : Assistant Secretary of the Société de linguistique de Paris
  • 1950 : Professor at the University of Ann Arbor
  • 1959-1970 : Secretary of the Société de linguistique de Paris
  • 1960 : Member of the Institut (Académie des Inscriptions des Belles Lettres)
  • 1969 : Illness forced him to give up his lectures

Awards and distinctions

  • 1960 : Member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
  • 1962 : Officer of the Legion of Honor
  • 1965 : Honorary doctorate from the University of Louvain
  • 1974 : Honorary doctorate from the University of Berne
  • Member of ten foreign learned societies
  • Commandeur des palmes académiques
  • Honorary doctorate from the University of Teheran