About
Jonas Carlquist is Professor in Scandinavian Languages at Umeå University, based in the Department of Language Studies, Section of Swedish and Scandinavian Studies. Holding the Swedish academic title of Docent, he specializes in Old Swedish philology, medieval manuscript culture, runology, and the intersection of text, image, and devotion in late-medieval Sweden.
Research Interests
- Old Swedish language and textual analysis
- Medieval manuscripts and literacy practices
- Runic inscriptions before the Viking Age
- Material culture and devotional artefacts in parish churches
- Digital philology and scholarly editing
- Gender and learning in Birgittine monasteries
Carlquist’s publications reveal a consistent focus on how texts—both runic and manuscript—function within their historical contexts. A recurring theme is the interplay between written word and material object, evident in studies of Marian sculptures, Vadstena Abbey’s liturgical books, and pre-Viking fibula inscriptions. His work integrates traditional philological close reading with modern digital approaches, advocating what he terms “the art of reading slowly.”
Research Groups & Projects
- Member of the Umeå Group for Premodern Studies
- Principal investigator of the project Imitatio Mariae (2010–2013)
Contact
E-mail: jonas.carlquist@umu.se
Phone: +46 90 786 66 24
Office: Humanisthuset, corridor HUM.K.2, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
