Talk:Sigmund Feist

Feist's Jewish Heritage
I would like to see Feist's Jewish heritage mentioned in the article, and possibly something on his scholarly work in matters pertaining to Judaism (other than simply listing his works Stammeskunde der Juden, Rassenkunde des jüdischen Volkes and Die Ethnographie der Juden). I see it as noteworthy, and apparently others do as well. [Enough so that Ruth Römer wrote a lengthy article entitled Sigmund Feist: Deutscher - Germanist - Jude (Muttersprache 91, 1981, S. 249-308]. Could someone more knowlegeable in the acceptable wording of such things include this relevant information? I could certainly do it, I just don't want to offend anyone by saying:
 * Sigmund Feist (1865-1943) was a German historical linguist of Jewish descent. He was the author of the non-Indo-European pre-Germanic substrate theory as well as a number of works concerning Jewish ethnic and racial identity.

For some reason, I feel sure that would get edited right away. So, anyone willing to take a stab at it? Varoon Arya 17:36, 12 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Feel free to edit the article as you see fit. Nobody should be offended. They should assume good faith and work with you. The only thing I would like to see is references for any material that is added. Anyways, good luck! --Tom 19:43, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Thank you for the encouragement, Tom. As you may have noticed, I have gone ahead and added what I see to be important information on Feist. More is, as always, welcome. =) Varoon Arya 22:14, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
 * No problem. I, personally, would rather have his ethnicity discussed outside of the lead sentence per wp:mosbio in a "early life" or "family" section. If his ethnicity is WHY he is notable, then it can go in the lead sentence. Anyways, no biggie. Cheers! --Tom 15:13, 13 November 2007 (UTC) ps, can we get a source for his ethnicity if it isn't already included? Thanks
 * If more information can be gathered on his life (I have a bit of information on his wife [Toni Rawicz, daughter of the Offenburger Rabbi Rawicz] but not much else pertaining to him), then moving the reference to his ethnicity would be fine, I suppose. Though, considering his position as director of the orphanage and all (not to mention the fact that he accepted this position due to his having to abandon any hope of a professorship at a German university on the grounds that he was Jewish and entertained 'controvertial' opinions in matters pertaining to Germanic Studies), I would say that his Jewish heritage does play a central role in his recent notariety. Like you said, it's not necessarily a huge issue, but perhaps one that future editors can deliberate upon.
 * Regarding 'sources' of his ethnicity, it is mentioned explicitly in both Reviews listed under External Links, as well as - I can only assume here as I have not read it - in Römer's Sigmund Feist: Deutscher – Germanist – Jude. There is also information on (ethnic) German scholars being reprimanded for having cited Feist in their works post-1933, but I could find neither a sensible nor justifiable way to work this kind of thing into this article. Also, he immigrated to Denmark in 1939 - one can only assume to avoid further persecution. (I don't have a direct first-hand quote on that. Only references in online summaries like this one). The only thing I have found that could even suggest that he was not Jewish is his being listed in Alan E. Steinweis' Studying the Jew: Scholarly Antisemitism in Nazi Germany (linked in the Referenced in section). Though, Steinweis must surely mention him as a counter-example, or - perhaps - as a Jewish Antisemite (?). I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has read the book. Varoon Arya 18:41, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Would you consider replacing the word "notoriety" in the mention of the former students? It often implies a negative judgement that I am sure wasn't intended. Walter Turner 93.202.113.81 (talk) 11:28, 11 July 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
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Bibliographical references need to be updated
Mention should be made of later editions of his Vergleichendes Wörterbuch:

The third edition appeared in 1939.

In 1986, E. J. Brill, which had published the third edition, published Winfred P. Lehmann's A Gothic Etymological Dictionary Based on the third edition of Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der Gotischen Sprache by Sigmund Feist with bibliography prepared under the direction of Helen-Jo J. Hewitt (so reads the full title on the title page).

The first three editions are therefore now of historical interest only.S. Valkemirer (talk) 00:54, 22 December 2020 (UTC)