Joan Coromines (Barcelona, 1905 - Pineda de Mar, Maresme, 1997) was a linguist. His profound mastery of Catalan, Castilian and Provençal, and the Romance languages in general, along with Indo-European and Arabic linguistics made him one of the most prominent and scholars in Romance linguistics with his work recognised all around the world. The constant areas of his work are lexicography, etymology and onomastics (toponymy and anthroponymy). Amongst his outstanding works are the Diccionario etimológico de la llengua castellana, the Diccionari etimològic i complementari de la llengua catalana, a monumental work in its historical, critical, comparative and above all etymological nature, and the Onomasticon Cataloniae. He participated in the nomenclature of the Catalan municipalities which was adopted by the Generalitat (Autonomous Government) of Catalonia and was awarded the highest honours for his labours: Medalla d'Or (Gold Medal) de la Generalitat Catalunya (1980), Premi d'Honor Jaume I (Jaume I Award of Honour) in 1981, Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (Catalan Letters Award of Honour) in 1984, the Premio nacional de las Letras Españolas (Spanish Letters National Award) in 1989 and the Medalla d'Or de la Ciutat de Barcelona (Gold Medal of the City of Barcelona) in 1994 and the Premi de la Institució de les Lletres Catalanes (Institute of Catalan Letters Award) in 1996, amongst others.



Web page: Emili Gil for AELC.
Up-date: Nausica Solà.
Photographs: Fundació Pere Coromines' files / Max Cahner's files / Joan Pujadas' files.
Translation: Julie Wark.