Jernej Kopitar, also known as Bartholomeus Kopitar, was a Slovene linguist and philologist working in Vienna. He also worked as the Imperial censor for Slovene literature in Vienna. He is perhaps best known for his role in the Serbian language reform started by Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, where he played a vital role in supporting the reform by using his reputation and influence as a Slavic philologist.
Gravestone of Jernej Kopitar in Vienna, later moved to Navje Memorial Park in Ljubljana.
Gravestone of Jernej Kopitar in Navje Memorial Park in Ljubljana.
Vuk Stefanović Karadžić was a Serbian philologist, anthropologist and linguist. He was one of the most important reformers of the modern Serbian language. For his collection and preservation of Serbian folktales, Encyclopædia Britannica labelled Karadžić "the father of Serbian folk-literature scholarship." He was also the author of the first Serbian dictionary in the new reformed language. In addition, he translated the New Testament into the reformed form of the Serbian spelling and language.
Vuk Karadžić, around 1850
Petnjica, Šavnik
Vuk Karadžić's house today in the all-museum village Tršić.
Oil painting by Pavel Đurković, dating to 1816 (age 29)