Václav Machek (linguist)

In years 1914–1921 (studies were interrupted by World War I) Machek studied Czech and Latin language at Charles University in Prague (his main interest^{[citation needed]} during studies were Baltic languages and etymology). In years 1921-1924 he studied linguistics in Paris. Several years he taught at high schools in Czechoslovakia. From 1936 he was a professor of Slavic studies and comparative linguistics at then Jan Evangelista Purkyně University (now Masaryk University).^[1]

His scientific work is dedicated to etymology, especially in the Czech and Slovak languages; his etymological studies are always joined with studies of cultural backgrounds. His most important work is still reprinted, the Etymological Dictionary of Czech and Slovak language (Etymologický slovník jazyka českého a slovenského, 1957, 1968, in later edition, articles about Slovak words were omitted), Czech and Slovak names of plants (Česká a slovenská jména rostlin, 1954); he also collaborated on a project of an unfinished Etymological dictionary of Slavic languages (Etymologický slovník slovanských jazyků, 1973-1980).^[1]

Machek's non-monographic works were collected in Sebrané spisy Václava Machka (Prague, 2011). Some of his minor works were written in French.^{[citation needed]}