Jan Knappert

Jan Knappert (born January 14, 1927 in Heemstede , † May 30, 2005 in Hilversum , Netherlands ) was a Dutch linguist .

Live and act

Knappert was best known for his knowledge of Swahili and Esperanto . His best known work is the Esperanto-Swahili Dictionary. Knappert translated numerous works from Swahili, including the epic poem Utendi wa Tambuka . He also translated the Finnish national epic Kalevala into Swahili. Knappert taught in Leuven , at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and at various African universities. In the 1970s he participated in several conferences of the Tutmonda Esperantista Junulara Organizo . Knappert left seven children and eight grandchildren.

Fonts

• 1958: Het Epos Van Heraklios (Dutch edition and literal translation; dissertation at Leiden University)
• 1969: “The Utenzi wa Katirifu or Ghazwa ya Sesebani”, Africa and Overseas , Volume LII, 3–4, 81–104.
• 1977: het Epic van Heraklios. Uit het Swahili vertaald in het oorspronkelijke metrum . Amsterdam: Meulenhoff (Dutch translation in the original meter ).
• 1977: Myths and Legends of Indonesia . Singapore: Heinemann Educational Books (Asia) Ltd.
• 1983: Kamusi Kiesperanto Kiswahili. Vortaro Esperanto-Suahila . Rotterdam: Universala Esperanto-Asocio (2nd extended edition, ibid. 1996).
• 1989: The AZ of African Proverbs London: Karnak House.
• 1990: African Mythology . London: The Aquarian Press.
• 1991: Indian Mythology; an Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend . London: Harper Collins.
• 1997: Lexicon of African mythology: Myths, sagas and legends from A - Z. Weyarn: Seehamer. ISBN 3-932131-25-8
• 1997: Lexicon of Indian Mythology: Myths, sagas and legends from A - Z. Weyarn: Seehamer. ISBN 3-932131-23-1
• 2001: The Book of African Fables . New York: Edwin Mellen Press .
• 2003: The AZ of African Love Songs . London: Karnak House.
• 2005: Swahili Culture Book I and II . New York: Edwin Mellen Press.