People

Estonian linguist Tiit-Rein Viitso (1938–2022) was a researcher of Finnic language history and phonology, a professor of Finnic languages ​​at the University of Tartu, and the chairman of the Society of Livonian Friends. His most significant interest was Livonian, which he spent decades documenting, researching, and teaching. He was one of the greatest experts on Livonian to have ever lived. He researched Livonian from a host of different perspectives – from its sounds to its vocabulary. In addition to scientific research on Livonian, he was also involved in the continued development of written Livonian, edited Livonian books, and taught Livonian.

Viitso’s decades of work documenting Livonian culminated in the publication of the Livonian-Estonian-Latvian Dictionary (in collaboration with Valts Ernštreits) in 2012. A compendium of his work on Livonian entitled Liivi keel ja läänemeresoome keelemaastikud (Livonian language and Finnic linguistic landscapes) appeared in 2008.

_{Photo: Tuuli Tuisk}