Latvian Language Institute, UL

State research programme project "The Latvian Language in Time, Space, and Society (LaTS)"

The goal of the project “The Latvian Language in Time, Space, and Society (LaTS)” (No. VPP-LETONIKA-2025/1-0012, project lead Sanda Rapa) is to strengthen and expand knowledge of Latvian as a dynamic system shaped by its historical development, regional and social diversity, functional variety, and multilingual environment in Latvia and beyond, while simultaneously developing Latvian as a cornerstone of national identity and state security. To achieve this goal, the Latvian language will be studied in six dimensions: sociolinguistics, terminology and translation studies, dialectology and the study of the Latgalian written language, onomastics, the history of the Latvian language, and language acquisition. The project consists of six interrelated sub-projects that together correspond to the research tasks defined in sub-paragraph 6.1.1 of the Cabinet Order No. 559 of 12 September 2025. All sub-projects will contribute to the horizontal objectives of the programme: the development of human capital through student involvement; the expansion of the knowledge base in linguistics and related disciplines through peer-reviewed publications and monographs; the improvement of digital resources and tools by enhancing open-access linguistic databases and corpora; contributions to education and language policy development; as well as the dissemination of research results and the provision of recommendations for policymakers

Project events

25.05.2026. Project Researchers Participate in an International Seminar Organised by the University of Tartu

On 25 May 2026, linguists from Latvia and Estonia gathered in Alūksne for an international seminar on Latgalian, Malēnian, and South Estonian dialects, discussing current issues in borderland dialectology and language typology. Researchers Anna Stafecka and Dace Markus presented studies on Vidzeme dialects, Finnic language influence, regional linguistic interaction, and dialect diversity within the framework of the project.

More information about the event is available in the News section of the website.

22.05.2026. Project researchers organize the educational event “Basket of Words” during Museum Night in Liepāja

On 22 May 2026, with the support of the project, leading researcher Liene Markus-Narvila from the Institute of the Latvian Language, Faculty of Humanities, University of Latvia, and researcher Ieva Ozola from the Riga Technical University Liepaja Academy organized an educational event introducing Latvian dialects and regional vocabulary in an engaging and accessible way.

More information about the event is available in the News section of the website.

15-16.04.2026. The 24th Meeting of the Baltic Division of the UNGEGN is organized with the support of the project and the Institute of the Latvian Language

On 15–16 April 2026, the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency, in cooperation with the Institute of the Latvian Language at the University of Latvia, organized the 24th meeting of the Baltic Division of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN). The meeting brought together specialists in geographical names from the Baltic Division member states – Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland – as well as from Ukraine. The main topics of the meeting included the collection and study of place names, the assignment of official place names, the systematization and storage of data in databases, their use in cartography and the public sphere, and place names as part of cultural and historical heritage.

On the first day (15 April), participants presented national reports on current developments in the standardization of geographical names in their respective countries, along with thematic presentations on minority and indigenous place names, including the collection and use of Livonian place names in Latvia and minority place names in Estonia. On the second day (16 April), thematic presentations continued, covering geographical name standardization in Latvia, recent legislative developments in geospatial data management in Lithuania, the representation of personal names in street names, and commemorative place names in Estonia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, organizational matters of the Baltic Division and directions for future cooperation were discussed. It was decided that the next meeting would be held in Estonia in late 2027 or early 2028, while continuing to seek new opportunities for collaboration with other UNGEGN working groups.

Project participants Anta Trumpa and Sanda Rapa delivered a presentation entitled “From Voices to Forms: Collection, Compilation, and Systematization of Place Names at the Institute of the Latvian Language.” The presentation addressed the experience of collecting place names both historically and in contemporary practice through crowdsourcing tools, research on place names and challenges in their standardization while taking regional linguistic variation into account, as well as the preparation of the Dictionary of Latvian Place Names, including its history, structure, and the researchers involved.

Students involved in the project, Elīna Skreivere and Elīza Marija Rudzīte, introduced participants to the card index of the Institute of the Latvian Language, presenting its history, principles of organization, and its role in place-name standardization and research.

UNGEGN is one of the specialized expert groups of the United Nations, whose aim is the standardization of geographical names – the development of a unified and harmonized place-name system at both national and international levels. The Baltic Division was established in 1992 and includes Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland.

More information about the meeting, including the programme, is available on the website of the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency and on the website of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia.

27.03.2026. Participation of the LaTS Project in the 61st International Conference on Baltic Linguistics

On 27 March 2026, representatives of the project “Latvian Language in Time, Space and Society (LaTS)” (No. VPP-LETONIKA-2025/1-0012) participated in the 61st International Conference on Baltic Linguistics, delivering presentations on issues of dialectology, onomastics, sociolinguistics, and the history of language.

In her paper “Phonetic and Morphological Variants of Personal Names in Latvian Anthroponymy”, Laimute Balode analysed the variation of personal names in Latvian, with particular attention to phonetic and morphological variation in given names. She emphasised the interaction of systemic, normative, and individual factors, demonstrating that such variants reflect both language development and social processes.

In her presentation “Variationist Linguistics – an Alternative Approach to the Stratification of Language Varieties?”, Ina Druviete examined variationist linguistics as a branch of sociolinguistics and its relationship to the traditional classification of language varieties. She discussed its place in Latvian linguistics and concluded that it offers a more dynamic perspective on language structure and use, complementing the conventional model.

In her paper “Some Notes on Vowel Quality and Quantity in the Livonian Dialect of Courland Subdialects”, Anete Ozola focused on the properties of vowels in the Livonian dialect subdialects of Courland. She analysed both qualitative and quantitative aspects, highlighting the importance of dialects for understanding the Latvian language system and its historical development.

Anta Trumpa and Everita Andronova presented “From eža to robeža: Problems of Distinguishing Variants and Determining Meanings in the ‘Historical Dictionary of the Latvian Language’”, in which they analysed lexicographic challenges encountered in compiling a historical dictionary. They examined the forms and usage of the words eža and robeža in early sources, emphasising the complexity of distinguishing variants and interpreting meanings.

In his paper “Comments and Language Variants in Georg Mancelius’ Handbook ‘Lettus’ (1637–1638): Structure and Functions”, Pēteris Vanags analysed comments and language variants in early Latvian written tradition. He explored their structure and functions, shedding light on processes of language standardisation and interpretation in the 17th century.

In her paper “‘We Are Not the Best Planners, but Somehow Christmas Happens’: The Oral Component of Intensive Latvian Language Course Exams as a Reference Point for Assessing Students’ Speaking Proficiency”, Solvita Burr analysed the spoken language of learners of Latvian within an intensive course. Based on students’ exam materials, she evaluated the development of speaking skills and communicative competence, highlighting both linguistic and personal dimensions.

Conference programme

More about the conference: here.

16.03.2026. Project Data Management Plan Published

Within the State Research Programme project “The Latvian Language in Time, Space, and Society (LaTS)” (No. VPP-LETONIKA-2025/1-0012), the project Data Management Plan (DMP) has been prepared and published in the Zenodo repository (https://zenodo.org/records/19056122). The document defines the principles for the collection, processing, documentation, storage, and dissemination of the research data generated in the project, in accordance with the FAIR data management principles.

The plan covers several project data sources and digital infrastructures, including the Corpus of Early Latvian Texts (senie.lv), the Historical Dictionary of the Latvian Language (tezaurs.lv), the Interactive Map of Latvian Dialects (dialekti.lu.lv), as well as the citizen-science platforms vietvardi.lu.lv and apvidvardi.lu.lv, which collect data on place names and regional vocabulary.

5.03.2026. Project presented at the CLARIN-DARIAH conference

On 5 March 2026, the head of the LaTS project, Sanda Rapa, presented the project at the CLARIN and DARIAH conference “Digital Infrastructure for the Humanities.” In her presentation, she introduced each sub-project and addressed three key questions: why we conduct this research, what is being studied within the project, and what should be explored in the future. The presentation was attended not only by researchers but also by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science.

The presentation emphasized that research on the Latvian language encompasses its historical development, regional and social diversity, and its functioning in a multilingual environment. The project is structured into six subprojects: sociolinguistics; terminology and translation studies; dialectology and the Latgalian written language; onomastics; the history of the Latvian language; and the acquisition of Latvian as a foreign language. Together, these areas cover the main directions of Latvian linguistic research.

The lecture also outlined the planned results of the project, including the preparation of monographs and dictionaries, studies of dialects and place names, sociolinguistic analyses, research on the development of terminology, and investigations into the acquisition of Latvian in Latvia, in the diaspora, and at foreign universities. Particular attention was also given to the importance of digital resources and future research directions, such as language data analysis, digital maps, and new tools for studying the Latvian language.

In conclusion, it was stressed that the project provides a broad foundation for understanding the development of the Latvian language and strengthens its role as a unifying element of Latvia’s culture, identity, and society.

19-20.02.2026. Project-supported international scientific conference

On 19–20 February 2026, the international scientific conference commemorating the 153rd anniversary of academician Jānis Endzelīns, “Research for Language Practice: Sociolinguistic Aspects, Terminology Development, and Standardization”, took place. The conference was devoted to the interaction between language research and language practice – to how contemporary sociolinguistics, the development of terminology, and processes of language standardization shape and influence the use of Latvian in different spheres of society and communication and across various groups, while also examining language in its social and cultural contexts and the processes of language planning, norm setting, terminology development, and language policy, outlining their theoretical foundations and practical impact on the language environment in Latvia and beyond.

The first session focused on the historical and conceptual foundations of terminology. Māris Baltiņš analysed the development of the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and its role in language standardization, while Andrejs Veisbergs addressed boundary issues between grammatical constructions and phraseological units. Jānis Veckrācis highlighted lexicographic problems in legal terminology, and Vaida Misevičiūtė analysed the influence of English on contemporary Lithuanian in translation. The session highlighted the systemic nature of terminology, the principles of standardization, and cross-linguistic influence.

The second session emphasized the importance of standardization, internationalization, and conceptual consistency in terminology. Within the framework of social and semantic aspects of terminology development, Vaida Buivydienė and Lina Rutkienė analysed the semantic transformation of the mythonym angel across different domains, demonstrating the interaction between terminology and culture. Rasuolė Vladarskienė examined legal aspects of administrative language regulation, while Aida Čižikaitė discussed the formation of international terminology theory through the cooperation of Eugen Wüster and Ernst Drezen. The status of methodological terminology was discussed by Anna Vulāne and Elita Stikute.

The third session highlighted the dynamics of language norms and their social and historical contexts. Ilze Auziņa, Dace Markus, Guna Rābante-Buša, and Paula Miķelsone analysed possibilities for standardizing syllable intonation in Latvian literary language. Palmira Zemlevičiūtė addressed terminological and lexical issues in medical texts, while Egita Proveja analysed language use in obituaries in the Latvian press of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The fourth session emphasized the role of language in social integration, legal practice, and intercultural communication. Silvija Papaurelīte-Klovienė analysed the concept of neighborliness in the Lithuanian worldview, Viktorija Prituļaka discussed the role of language policy in the linguistic integration of Ukrainian refugees in Latvia, Ina Druviete addressed linguistic expert evidence in court practice, Vija Požarnova explored language as a value system, and Olga Freimane examined the use of English as a lingua franca in medical professional communication.

The fifth session was devoted to dialectology and regional language in several directions. Ieva Ozola and Liene Markus-Narvila discussed theoretical aspects of dialect research, Ilze Ziņģe analysed the relationship between contemporary Latgalian literature and standard Latvian through translation, Lidija Leikuma addressed the lexicon of crafts in Southern Latgale, and Edeite Laime together with Lidija Leikuma analysed plant names in Latgalian. The presentations highlighted the diversity of Latvian, regional identity, and the role of dialects in language development.

The sixth session demonstrated the variability of terminology, domain-specific features, and the role of education in consolidating terminology. Anna Šēfere addressed equivalence issues in adventure tourism terminology, Anna Rudzīte analysed the development of music terminology in pedagogical sources, Arturs Stalažs discussed organism name terminology, and Elza Seile together with Anna Vulāne examined the interpretation of students’ language use.

The seventh session highlighted language quality, the dynamics of norms, and the impact of technology on language use. Evelīna Zilgalve analysed aspects of language culture and digital communication through the functions of the particle vien, Regīna Kvašīte examined Lithuanian terminology used in Latvia, Aiga Bādere analysed the classification and impact of machine translation errors, and Baiba Valkovska addressed issues of editorial consensus.

The final session outlined the continuity of language research and the connection between theory and contemporary language practice. Albina Auksoriūtė examined theoretical and historical issues of language and terminology through the linguistic ideas of Romanas Bytautas, Ilze Lokmane, Baiba Valkovska, and Gunta Nešpore-Bērzkallne discussed the marking of expressive vocabulary in the electronic dictionary Tēzaurs, Raivis Bičevskis addressed principles of philosophical terminology development, Dalia Kiseliūnaitė analysed issues of personal name standardization, and Harald Bichlmeier discussed features of early lexicographic standardization in an 18th-century dictionary.

Overall, the conference demonstrated that language research in Latvia and the Baltic region is increasingly closely connected with practical language use, policy, terminology, and the needs of society, while remaining grounded in a strong theoretical and historical tradition.

Video overview of the first day of the conference. Prepared by Vija Požarnova.

Video overview of the second day of the conference. Prepared by Vija Požarnova



3.02.2026. Project participant awarded a doctoral degree

On 3 February 2026, VELGA POLINSKA, a participant in the subproject “Sociolinguistic Studies of the Latvian Language”, defended her doctoral dissertation “Easy Language within the System of Latvian Language Varieties” (scientific supervisor: Professor Ina Druviete, head of this subproject). The dissertation analyses Easy Language as a contemporary variety of Latvian, drawing on theoretical literature, linguistic text analysis, and sociolinguistic data. It characterizes its lexical, syntactic, morphological, and text-structural features, as well as public attitudes towards this language form and its users. The main conclusion of the dissertation is that Easy Language is a modified form of standard Latvian that ensures accessibility of information and inclusive communication for diverse groups in society.

22.12.2026. Project launch and first meeting of sub-project leaders

 

On 22 December 2025, the first management meeting of the LaTS project took place, focusing on issues related to the project launch, the planned outcomes, and the organisation of further work.
The meeting participants agreed on the key administrative steps required to initiate the project, including the streamlining of work organisation and the review of staff workloads in view of parallel commitments in other projects. The need to ensure clear and timely information flow between the sub-projects was emphasised.
Special attention was given to the results outlined in the project application and to the initial planning of how these results would be achieved. In particular, the preparation of scientific publications and the rational use of work resources were highlighted during the discussions.
The meeting also addressed the recommendations of the project’s external evaluators, with an emphasis on the interconnection of the sub-projects, technological aspects, dissemination of results, and the timely assessment of potential risks.
Finally, issues related to work mobility and participation in academic events were discussed, clarifying the general principles for linking project-related activities with the project’s results during the initial phase of the project.

Project events

Latvian Language Institute
of the University of Latvia

Kalpaka bulvāris 4

Rīga LV-1050
Latvia

☏ 371 67034016

✉ lavi@lu.lv

Follow us

Facebook Twitter

 

© All rights reserved

Contact us