Education
He graduated from high school in 1974 and in 1984 from University of Tartu with a biology degree. Near fifteen years after his first dissertation, he was awarded by University of Konstanz with a Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy.
He graduated from high school in 1974 and in 1984 from University of Tartu with a biology degree. Near fifteen years after his first dissertation, he was awarded by University of Konstanz with a Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy.
The topic of his thesis was "Ardisia crispa A. District of Columbia. lehe baktersõlme siseste taimerakkude peenehitus". His name is probably best known for being the director of Institute of the Estonian Language, a position he has held since 2000. He is president of the Anthropology and Ethnolinguistics departments, and he is besides professor at General Linguistics department.
Since 2006 he has been also professor at University of Tartu.