Michael Rießler

Michael Rießler is Professor of General Linguistics in the Foreign Languages and Translation Studies department at the School of Humanities, University of Eastern Finland. Holding both a PhD and Docent qualification, he is actively involved in research on endangered languages, linguistic diversity, and language policy in Northern Europe, particularly in the Barents region.

Dr. Rießler's research focuses on multilingualism and language diversity in the Barents region, with specialization in documenting endangered languages using digital methods, sociology of language, minority language policy, language contacts, and linguistic typology. His work spans across Uralic languages, particularly Saami languages and Komi, with emphasis on language documentation, preservation, and technological applications for endangered languages.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward integrating digital humanities and computational linguistics with traditional language documentation. Rießler's work consistently addresses the challenges of documenting and preserving endangered languages through innovative technological solutions, including speech recognition systems, OCR for historical materials, and data management strategies that balance accessibility with ethical considerations.

Currently leading the project 'Hundred Sweden Finnish and Tornedalian linguistic autobiographies' (2021-2026) and active in the General Linguistics research group since 2020, Professor Rießler continues to make significant contributions to the field of endangered language documentation and Uralic linguistics.