Knud Leem

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Knud Leem (1696–1775) was a Norwegian priest and linguist. Knud Leem started the linguistic study of Sámi when he published a grammar book of it in 1748. Between 1756 and 1768, he also published two dictionaries.

Leem also headed the Seminarium Lapponicum for some time and worked together with Anders Porsanger.

Leem's grammar book shows an insight into Sámi that was not present in many other grammar books of the same era. Leem uses an inflection classification quite similar to the one being used nowadays. He also commented on consonant gradation, but more as a tendency than as a rule.

[edit] Topographic work

A Lappish shaman with a drum used for runic divination (meavrresgárri). The illustrations are printed from copperplates by O.H. von Lode in Firenze, after drawings made by Knud Leem himself, to his Beskrivelse over Finnmarkens Lapper, ..., (1767).

Knud Leem’s most important book is his topographic work, Beskrivelse over Finmarkens Lapper deres Tungemaal, Levemaade og forrige Afgudsdyrkelse, (1767), supplied with comments from bishop J.E. Gunnerus and a large historic-religious study written by E.J. Jessen-Schardeböll. Here Leem describes in both Danish and Latin the life and livings amongst the contemporary Lapp population, their garments, clothing and dress, food and cooking, hunting, fishing and sport equipments, shamanism and folk belief, etc.. A rich, but in many cases distorted, illustrated material, enlarges the value of the documentation about elderly Lappish culture, at the same time as the book is among the foremost topographic work published in the Nordic countries during the 18th Century.

[edit] Bibliography (selected works)

• Leem, Knud 1748: En lappisk Grammatica efter den Dialect, som bruges af Field-Lapperne udi Porsanger-Fiorden : samt et Register over de udi samme Grammatica anførte Observationers Indhold, hvorhos er føyet et Blad af den berømmelige Historie-Skriveres Hr. Baron Ludvig Holbergs Kirke-Historie oversat i det Lappiske Tungemaal med en Analyse over hvert Ord. Kiøbenhavn : Gottman Friderich Kisel.
• Leem, Knud 1756: En Lappesk Nomenclator efter Den Dialect, som bruges af Fjeld-Lapperne i Porsanger-Fjorden. Tronhiem : Trøkt hos Jens Christensen Winding.
• Leem, Knud 1760: Om Lappernes Afgudiske Ofringer [182] pp. ; 20 cm.
• Leem, Knud, Jessen-S., Erich Johan Gunnerus, Johan Ernst 1767: Knud Leems Beskrivelse over Finmarkens Lapper, deres Tungemaal, Levemaade og forrige Afgudsdyrkelse, oplyst ved mange Kaabberstykker = Canuti Leemii De Lapponibus Finmarchiae, eorumqve lingva, vita et religione pristina commentatio, multis tabulis aeneis illustrata / med J.E. Gunneri Anmærkninger. Og E.J. Jessen-S Afhandling om de norske Finners og Lappers hedenske Religion. Kiøbenhavn : Trykt udi det Kongel. Wæysenhuses Bogtrykkerie af G.G. Salikath.
• Leem, Knud 1768: Lapponico - Danico - Latina. Pars 1. [13], 1610 pp.