«The Outline of Universal Grammar» by L. H. Jakob: German philosophical grammar in Russia

The article looks at one of the most famous philosophical grammars written in Russia by Professor L. H. Jakob, a German philosopher, economist and lawyer. The author of the article gives a detailed analysis of the scientist's life against the background of historical events in Germany and Russia at the beginning of the of the XIX century. The author also highlights the details of his scientific career, the history of creation, use and disappearance of his main and only linguistic philosophical work «The Outline of Universal Grammar», all the facts being studied from the perspective of narrative linguistic historiography. Born into a family of farmers, he becomes rector of the University in Halle. However, the Napoleon invasion of the country forces him to flee to Kharkov and start teaching and research activities at the University there. Two years later he moves to St-Petersburg and works in the Ministry of Finance. After less than ten years in Russia, he returns to his alma mater. This article refers to the facts of instability in political and educational life of Russian society during the reign of Alexander I, and highlights their negative impact on both L. H. Jakob’s personal life and his philosophical grammar. The author of the article quotes extensively both from 19thand 20th-century biographical publications and from well-known works on the history of linguistics. The author also refers to works from certain branches of linguistics, which acknowledge the scientist’s contribution to linguistics in general and Russian linguistics in particular. The reasons for both the publication and the defeat of L. H. Jakob's grammar reflected the changing national political environment and the unstable situation in public education in the Russian Empire. Nevertheless, whatever the circumstances, they in no way diminish the significance of this work among other philosophical grammars.