Born to face challenges and make discoveries: A commemorative paper in honor of my colleague and dear friend Alexis A. Burykin

This paper was written in commemoration of an outstanding Russian linguist, the member of Editorial Board of the journal «Theoretical and Applied Linguistics» Alexis A. Burykin who passed away too early. More than 30 times he prepared peer reviews for the Journal, and 9 times published with the Journal after being peerreviewed. Linguistic issues that he studied were multiple and complex: he created the largest in Russia Electronic Lexicographer Library, went deep into controversial issues of phonetics and phonology, writing systems, poetry and translation, phraseology, word-building and reconstruction. His sharp mind, encyclopedic knowledge, pure talent and restlessness made him rush to face challenges and make discoveries. With his death, we suffered a terrible loss, and we lost not just a colleague but a dear friend who we would always miss.