Use and Development of Modern Latvian

Project number: VPP-LETONIKA-2022/1-0001

Project manager/coordinator: Ina Druviete

Project goal: The goal of the project is to ensure the sustainability of the Latvian language as the foundation of Latvian statehood and a shared identity based on national values.

Project annotation and main tasks: The project contributes to both sociolinguistics and language acquisition theory, as well as in the fields of education and public awareness, thereby strengthening the status and functions of the official language. The findings of the project can be used to update national language policy guidelines and provide direction for future academic research.

Project results: The project has been developed as a cohesive set of four subprojects. The first subproject investigates the trends in the development of the Latvian literary language in relation to language ideology and language standardization processes, using modern sociolinguistic research methods. In collaboration with the Latvian Language Agency, the language usage habits of Latvia’s residents in different communicative situations, as well as the linguistic attitudes within various social groups, have been analyzed. The second subproject focuses on children’s language acquisition, the language skills of children and youth, and language use in educational institutions and the diaspora. The third subproject analyzes virtual communication, the use of Latvian in social media, and its impact on the semantic and grammatical aspects of the language. The fourth subproject is dedicated to the scientific principles and practical development of Latvian language terminology.

Project partners: LU, RTU Liepāja, RTA, LVA

Project total budget: 427 000 EUR (RTA daļa: 23 111 EUR)

Project funding source: Latvian Science Council (LZP)

RTA staff involved: Sanita Martena