Language situation in Latvia: 2010–2015

This study analyzes the dynamics of the language situation between 2010 and 2015, discussing the language proficiency and language use of Latvia’s residents in various sociolinguistic domains, the existing proficiency of various languages in society, and the position of these languages within the linguistic environment. Other topics discussed include the events significant to the implementation of language policy that occurred during this period and the language situation in the Latvian diaspora. At the end of each chapter, there is a summary of the main conclusions and recommendations for implementing language policy in the future. In this study, as in the study published by LVA analyzing the previous period (2004-2010), there is discussion of the development and events which have occurred for the two communities mentioned in the State Language Law and which are significant in Latvia’s cultural history and linguistic environment. These are the spoken and written forms of the Latgalian variety of Latvian and the indigenous Livonian language.

This study is based on quantitative as well as qualitative survey results, which are analyzed in the context of the newest theories and insights offered by the global sociolinguistic community. This study will be useful to all organizations involved in implementing language policy, to linguists, to students of sociology and history as well as to university lecturers. At the end of this volume, a broad collection of literature and sources used in this study is provided. The goal of this is to inspire the reader to independent research and further study.

Authors: Ina Druviete, Valts Ernštreits, Kerttu Kibbermann, Gunta Kļava, Evija Kļave, Indra Lapinska, Dite Liepa, Solvita Pošeiko, Inese Šūpule

Translator: Uldis Balodis

Proofreader: Benjamin Alex Borek-Coxen

The electronic edition is available here http://www.valoda.lv/en/research/study-of-the-linguistic-situation/

A sociolinguistic study. Scientific Editor: L. Lauze. Editor-in-Chief: G. Kļava. Rīga: LVA, 2017. 272 pgs.