Karl Hoffmann (linguist)

Karl Hoffmann (26 February 1915 – 21 May 1996) was a German linguist who specialized in Indo-European and Indo-Iranian studies.

Karl Hoffmann was born the son of a railway official, during World War I in Hof, Upper Palatinate, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire.

In 1934, Hoffmann began his education in Indo-European studies, which he continued until he was called in for military service for Nazi Germany at the start of World War II in 1939.

Hoffmann took his leave from the war during 1941, just long enough to receive his doctorate for his unpublished dissertation, titled Die altindoarischen Wörter mit -ṇḍ- besonders im Ṛgveda.

Once World War II had ended in 1945, Hoffmann returned to Munich in Occupied Germany, and was able to continue his academic work in Indo-Iranian studies.