William Stewart Cornyn
USA- Early Life and Career
- Academic Pursuits
- Yale University Professorship
- World War II and Southeast Asian Languages
- Scholarly Contributions
- Honors and Affiliations
Early Life and Career
Born in Vancouver, Canada, the future linguist moved to Los Angeles in 1922 where he worked as a clerk and accountant. From 1924 to 1928, he resided in San Francisco, serving as a clerk in an insurance company.
Academic Pursuits
In 1940, the linguist graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. He then enrolled at Yale University, where he earned his master's degree in 1942 and doctorate in 1944.
Yale University Professorship
After graduating, the linguist became a professor of Slavic and Southeast Asian Languages at Yale University. He also chaired the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures.
World War II and Southeast Asian Languages
With the outbreak of World War II, the linguist was recruited for work on Southeast Asian languages. He became a prominent figure in the field of Oriental studies during this period.
Scholarly Contributions
The linguist authored notable works on the Burmese language, including the two-volume textbook "Spoken Burmese" (1946). He also published several studies on the Russian language.
Honors and Affiliations
In 1962, the linguist received a Guggenheim Fellowship in linguistics. He was a member of the Linguistic Society of America.
