Mati Erelt

Mati Erelt (12 March 1941 – 12 October 2024) was an Estonian linguist.^[1]

Mati Erelt

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.^[1]

From 1989 until 1991 he was a professor at Tallinn Pedagogical Institute. 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 was later Professor Emeritus at the University of Tartu as well as a Senior Research Fellow.^[1]

From 1997 until 2006 he was the chairman of Mother Tongue Society.^[1]

Erelt was married to linguist Tiiu Erelt.^[2] He died on 12 October 2024, at the age of 83.^[3]

Awards

• 2005: Order of the White Star, IV class^[4]
• 2006: Medal of Estonian Academy of Sciences^[1]
• 2006: Big Medal of Tartu University (Estonian: Tartu ülikooli suur medal)^[1]
• 2008: Wiedemann Language Award^[1]