Mati Erelt

Mati Erelt was born in Tallinn. In 1965 he graduated from the University of Tartu with a degree in Estonian language and literature. He defended his doctoral dissertation there in 1981.

From 1989 until 1991 he was a professor at Tallinn Pedagogical Institute (now, Tallinn University). From 1991 to 1995 he was a visiting professor at the Chair of Finno-Ugric Languages at the University of Helsinki, and from 1995 to 2006. he was a professor at the Chair of Estonian at the University of Tartu. He is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Tartu and continues to work as a Senior Research Fellow.

From 1997 until 2006 he was the chairman of Mother Tongue Society.

He is married to linguist Tiiu Erelt.

• 2005: Order of the White Star, IV class
• 2006: Medal of Estonian Academy of Sciences
• 2006: Big Medal of Tartu University (Estonian: Tartu ülikooli suur medal)
• 2008: Wiedemann Language Award