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Anton Bernolák | |
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| Born | 3 October 1762 |
| Died | 15 January 1813 (aged 50) |
| Occupation(s) | Catholic priest,official,linguist |
| Known for | Codified the firstSlovak language standard |
Anton Bernolák (Hungarian:Bernolák Antal; 3 October 1762 – 15 January 1813) was aSlovaklinguist andCatholic priest, and the author of the firstSlovak language standard.
He was born as the second child to alower noble family in theÁrva region. He studied at a grammar school (gymnasium) in Rózsahegy (present-dayRužomberok) from 1774 to 1778, and later in Nagyszombat (present-dayTrnava) andVienna, and graduated in theology at the general seminary in Pressburg (present-dayBratislava) in 1787. In the very same year, he codified the first Slovak language standard, which he based on western Slovak dialects spoken aroundTrnava, with some elements from the central dialects. The language, calledbernolákovčina, wasn't accepted as a national standard language, although it was a milestone on the way to the formation of the modern Slovak nation. From 1787 to 1791, he was acurate in Cseklész (present-dayBernolákovo), from 1791 to 1797 a secretary in the archbishopric vicar's office in Nagyszombat (present-dayTrnava), and from 1797 until his death in 1813, a priest in Érsekújvár (present-dayNové Zámky).
His language was the basis for the activities of the Slovak Educated Brotherhood, established in 1787 in Nagyszombat (present-dayTrnava), and also for the movement of Bernolák's followers, which lasted three generations. Exhaustive literary and priestly work, concern about his close family and other circumstances undermined his health to such an extent that he died unexpectedly of a heart attack on January 15, 1813.
Holy Trinity Chapel, popularly called Anton Bernolák's Chapel, inNové Zámky,Slovakia, was built in 1722 in theBaroque style.
