prof. PhDr. Mirek Čejka

He graduated in Czech and Russian studies from the Faculty of Arts in Brno. Initially, he worked as a teacher at secondary schools and as a Czech language lecturer in Beijing, London, and Regensburg. He worked as a researcher at the branch of the Academic Institute of Czech Language in Brno (1954–1956), and from 1959, he was employed at the Faculty of Arts in Brno. He began his scientific work as a dialectologist. His professional scope was characterized by a wide range of thematic, theoretical, and methodological aspects. Part of his work is rooted in historical-comparative methodology and extends from Slavic studies (using lexicostatistical methods) and Indo-European studies to the nostratic community. He also contributed to the understanding of the cultural-historical context of selected authors' works, such as Jan Blahoslav and Adam Michna z Otradovic. His scientific work also strongly addresses the issue of synchronic description, where he utilized his extensive knowledge of influential foreign linguistic and semiotic theories. He focused particularly on lexicology and syntax. After returning from Beijing, he organized conversational Chinese courses at the faculty and lectures on Chinese history, culture, and philosophy. Editorial work was also an important part of his activity, such as Gramatika česká Jana Blahoslava (1991), co-authored with Dušan Šlosar and Jana Nechutová, Adam Michna z Otradovic, Básnické dílo (1999), Jan Blahoslav: Čtyři menší spisy (2013). He was also involved in translation. As an outstanding university educator, he trained and significantly influenced entire generations of linguists.

References: RočBU 1964, 96–97; RočUJEP 1964–1968, p. 449; RočUJEP 1968–1975, p. 749–750; RočUJEP 1976–1985, p. 343; D. Šlosar, NŘ 72, 1989, 212–213; R. Večerka, SPFFBU A 37/38, 1989/90, 7–8 (pp. 9–14 bibliography); Z. Hladká – M. Nekula, SaS 60, 1999, p. 327; J. Zeman, Češtinář 15/1, 2004/2005, 23–25; (bibliography), SPFFBU A 52, 2004, 177–179.