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Johannes Jacobus Smith

1883 – 1949

South-African linguist

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About Johannes Jacobus Smith

Lived 1883 – 1949 (aged 65). Johannes Jacobus Smith was a South African linguist.

Professor Johannes Jacobus "Jan" Smith (5 October 1883 − 18 June 1949) was a leading figure in the Afrikaans language movement and the compiler of the first standard Afrikaans dictionary. He was an important member of the committee which first attempted to standardize Afrikaans spelling, and was made the founding editor of Die Huisgenoot, the family magazine of the Nasionale Pers, in which early Afrikaans literature was discussed. His nephew was the politician, judge and Afrikaans writer Henry Allan Fagan.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Employers
Stellenbosch University
Also known as
J. J. Smith

People in Johannes Jacobus Smith's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Johannes Jacobus Smith's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Johannes Jacobus Smith?

South-African linguist (1883-1949)

When was Johannes Jacobus Smith born?

Johannes Jacobus Smith was born on 5 October 1883 in Tulbagh.

When did Johannes Jacobus Smith die?

Johannes Jacobus Smith died on 18 June 1949 in Cape Town.

What was Johannes Jacobus Smith's occupation?

Johannes Jacobus Smith was a linguist.

What nationality was Johannes Jacobus Smith?

Johannes Jacobus Smith was South African.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Johannes Jacobus Smith

· Wikidata: Q20604575

· DBpedia: J. J. Smith (linguist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Johannes Jacobus Smith. https://biography.guide/johannes-jacobus-smith-linguist/

MLA: "Johannes Jacobus Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/johannes-jacobus-smith-linguist/.

Chicago: "Johannes Jacobus Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/johannes-jacobus-smith-linguist/.

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