Ac TO TS UD AS THE LANGUAGE SITUATION IN LATVIA 2010–2015 UDK 81`272(474.3)(082) La 517 The Language Situation in Latvia: 2010-2015. A sociolinguistic study. (Valodas situācija Latvijā: 2010–2015. Sociolingvistisks pētījums.) Scientific Editor: L. Lauze Editor-in-Chief: G. Kļava Rīga: LVA, 2017. 272 pgs. 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 implementa- tion 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 recommen- dations 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, Sanda Roze, Inese Šūpule Scientific editor Linda Lauze Editor-in-Chief Gunta Kļava Literary editor Inita Vītola Reviewers Māris Baltiņš, Karl Pajusalu Translator Uldis Balodis Proofreader Benjamin Alex Borek-Coxen Design and layout Aija Andžāne, Gints Roderts © Latviešu valodas aģentūra (Latvian Language Agency) © Authors © Design, R KVADRĀTĀ ISBN 978–9984–829–47–0 THELANGUAGE SITUATION IN LATVIA: 2010–2015 A sociolinguistic study 2017 CONTENTS FOREWORD 6 1. LATVIAN IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL SOCIOLINGUISTIC PROCESSES (Ina Druviete) 11 1.1. From scientific study to language protection 14 1.2. Describing the state of a language 19 1.3. Attitudes towards language diversity in the European Union 27 1.4. Latvian language vitality: observations and predictions 30 2. LANGUAGES IN LATVIA: LATVIAN AS THE STATE LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION (Kerttu Kibbermann, Gunta Kļava) 35 2.1. Directions for the implementation of language policy 37 2.2. The language situation of Latvia from an ethnodemographic perspective 39 2.3. The language proficiency of Latvia’s residents 47 2.4. The foreign language proficiency, use, and linguistic attitudes of Latvia’s residents in the context of the European Union 65 2.5. Latvian language acquisition: the experience and needs of Latvia’s ethnic minorities 70 2.6. Latvian and foreign languages in the education system 78 2.7. Trends in the language proficiency of Latvia’s residents 88 3. THE USE OF LATVIAN IN DIFFERENT SOCIOLINGUISTIC DOMAINS (Kerttu Kibbermann, Gunta Kļava) 93 3.1. Language use: trends and preconditions for an expanded role for Latvian 95 3.2. Language choice in the mass media 102 3.3. The possible and desirable increases in Latvian language use 106 3.4. The linguistic attitude and linguistic behavior of society: conditions for changing the situation 110 3.5. Language use – language future 120 4. LATVIAN AND LANGUAGE COMPETITION IN THE DIASPORA (EMIGRANT COMMUNITY) (Evija Kļave, Inese Šūpule) 123 4.1. Language proficiency before and after emigration 125 4.2. Language use at home before and after emigration 134 4.3. Support necessary for remigrants to strengthen Latvian language knowledge 140 4.4. Children from Latvia living as emigrants and the strengthening of their Latvian language proficiency 142 4.5. Future diaspora language support activities 150 4.6. Support for diaspora Latvian language acquisition (Sanda Roze) 152 5. LATVIAN LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AT UNIVERSITIES ABROAD (Indra Lapinska) 157 6. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LATGALIAN WRITTEN LANGUAGE (Solvita Pošeiko) 173 6.1. Latgalian studies: scientific projects, conferences, and publications 175 6.2. Education and culture 180 6.3. Mass media and the linguistic landscape 185 6.4. Emphases for future work 188 7. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIVONIAN LANGUAGE (Valts Ernštreits) 195 7.1. Popularizing the Livonian language 196 7.2. The Livonian language and the Latvian state 200 7.3. Language use in the linguistic environment 202 7.4. Language acquisition and dynamics 205 7.5. Language research, publications, and the development of language resources 209 7.6. Problems and future opportunities 215 8. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LANGUAGE POLICY EVENTS AS REFLECTED IN THE MASS MEDIA (Dite Liepa) 219 8.1. The language proficiency and language use of members of the Saeima (parliament) 221 8.2. The referendum on state language status for Russian 227 8.3. The development of the preamble to the constitution 234 8.4. The development of the Electronic Mass Media Law 236 8.5. Runāsim latviski! (Let’s speak Latvian!) Or questions of Latvian language use 238 8.6. Discussions about language and questions of language quality 243 8.7. The role of mass media sources in Latvian language maintenance 253 CONCLUSION 256 LITERATURE AND SOURCES 260 FOREWORD This study analyzes the dynamics of the language situation between 2010 and 2015, which is a continuation of the previous studies conducted by the Latvian Language Agency (Latviešu valodas aģentūra – LVA). The goal of these studies is to summarize the results of language policy and determine future directions for associated work. The events that occurred during the period analyzed by this study have challenged the basis for the existence of the Latvian state (i.e., the 2012 referendum on the question of whether Russian should be granted official language status in Latvia alongside Latvian) and have proven the importance of considered language management and the active involvement of every Latvian speaker. Therefore, more attention is devoted in the study specifically towards the questions of Latvian language proficiency and its further development, as well as language use in various domains and circumstances. As the study concludes, when we consider the sensitive nature of language and questions relating to lan- guage, various opinions and even stereotypes within society play a significant role. Chapter 1 describes the current position of Latvian in the world, taking into account globalization trends, circumstances of language competition, and factors affecting the survival and future of languages. Chapters 2 and 3 analyze Latvian language proficiency and usage on the part of Latvia’s residents in various soci- olinguistic domains, proficiency in various languages and the position of these languages in the linguistic environment where the pressures of language com- petition can still be felt. This has created a considerable offset between Latvian language proficiency and use, which has meant heightened attention being given specifically to the linguistic attitude of native speakers of Latvian as well as to members of the ethnic minority community. Trends at least on a declarative level are positive, with actual language use increasing in practice (with the exception of several significant domains of language use, for example, mass media). This is the reason why in the future attention must be directed mainly toward linguistic attitudes and this, in fact, must be done by every speaker. The changes that can happen to a language and the speed with which one language can replace another is shown precisely by the changes in Latvian lan- guage proficiency in the diaspora, which are described in Chapter 4. At the same time, the ways in which the government can influence and help by promoting Latvian language acquisition in the world – in the diaspora as well as to any- one interested (because Latvian is also interesting outside of Latvia (!)) – are de- scribed in Chapter 5. As in the previous study published by the LVA analyzing the language situa- tion between 2004-2010, the situation of the two communities mentioned in the State Language Law, considered meaningful within Latvia’s cultural history and 6 LANGUAGE SITUATION IN LATVIA linguistic environment, is also reviewed. These are the spoken and written forms of the Latgalian variety of Latvian and the indigenous Livonian language. Their development and the main processes observed in the communities who speak them are discussed in Chapter 6 and 7. Events which have prompted especially active discussion within society are discussed in Chapter 8. This chapter maps out the twofold nature of the mass media – as an information source for society, but also as an influencer of society – and its role in implementing language policy. The main conclusions and recommendations for further work in promoting an increase in the use of Latvian and the securing of its status are summarized at the end of each chapter. At the end of this volume, a broad collection of literature and sources used for this study is provided. The goal of this is to inspire readers and researchers on to independent research and further study. Events relating to the language situation, which occurred during the period this book covers, are powerful evidence that every single spoken and written word in Latvian is important to the securing and development of Latvian. This is always true, not only at critical moments when we must all go together to the voting booth to prove that the Latvian language is the foundation of this country and society.