Tatarstan and Poland to develop partnership relations

A memorial plaque to the founder of Kazan linguistic school, the distinguished figure of Polish and Russian science and public movement I.A. Baudouin de Courtenay was officially opened today near the main building of Kazan federal university.

Attendees at the ceremony were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Russia Voizech Zayonchkovsky, Tatarstan PM Ildar Khalikov, Head of RT Ministry of education and science Albert Gilmutdinov, Rector of Kazan federal university Ilshat Gafurov and other officials.

By words of Ilshat Gafurov Baudouin de Courtenay was a globally minded person. “We consider him as the professor of Kazan university, and the Polish know him as their compatriot. We are all thinking right. Baudouin de Courtenay made a great contribution in development of relations between the two countries”, Ilshat Gafurov highlighted.

Voizech Zayonchkovsky said he hopes opening a memorial plaque will start new phase in relationships between Kazan and Polish universities. He also thanked Tatarstan leadership for support in making realization of today’s event possible.

According to the leader of Tatarstan government Kazan Federal University and Tatarstan Republic face global tasks in the sphere of scientific development. These tasks may be realized only by regenerating traditions created by many great scientists.

Later on the officials unveiled the memorial plaque and laid red pinks. The plaque contains three plates in Russian, Polish and Tatar languages and bas-relief with a scientist’s portrait. It was made by the Polish sculptor Alexander Vrubelsky and then transported to Tatarstan.

The figure of Baudouin de Courtenay is very important for Kazan and Kazan university since it symbolizes development of scientific schools at the Kazan university and cooperation between Kazan and Poland.

His figure also means a lot for the Polish. In the XIXth century, when Russia and Poland hardly got on well he managed to realize his potential, made his contribution in development of Russian science, education, and cultural contacts between two nations.

Baudouin de Courtenay is known as the founder of Kazan linguistic school and a person who made considerable contribution in establishment of Kazan university as a World scientific centre.

In fact, Baudouin de Courtenay made a revolution in the science of language: before a historical approach prevailed in linguistics and languages were studied only by the written records.

Moreover, he proved that the nature of a language is hidden in speech activity, and we should study living languages and dialects to understand inner mechanisms of the language.

In addition, he developed a new scientific area – experimental phonetics and the theory of writing. Baudouin de Courtenay was the first to use mathematical models in linguistics.