Karl Pajusalu

Karl Pajusalu (born 20 June 1963) is an Estonian linguist and poet. He is a professor of history of the Estonian language and dialects at the University of Tartu and has been a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences since 2011.

Academic career Pajusalu graduated from Pärnu 1st Secondary School (1981) and studied Estonian philology at the University of Tartu (graduated 1986).

Research Pajusalu's research focuses on Estonian and other Finnic languages (including Livonian), dialectology, and the historical development and variation of Estonian.

Literary work Under the pseudonym Ķempi Kārl, Pajusalu writes poetry in Salaca Livonian.

Honours Order of the White Star, 3rd Class (2015) Baltic Assembly Medal (2022) University of Tartu Medal (2022) Latvian and Estonian Language Promotion Award (2024)