Linguistica Lettica is a scientific journal published annually by the Latvian Language Institute of the University of Latvia, or UL (Latvia). The journal has been published in print since 1997. All electronic versions of Linguistica Lettica issues are available on the website of the Latvian Language Institute and in the repository of UL e-resources.
Scope
The journal focuses on Baltic linguistics with a strong emphasis on the comprehensive study of the Latvian language, its contact with other languages in Latvia and around the world, and other languages spoken in Latvia. However, experts from other disciplines are also invited to submit disciplinary and interdisciplinary papers on topical language issues, research theories, and methodologies.
In 2021, the editorial board of Linguistica Lettica began a new tradition of thematizing each issue of the journal around certain topic, theory, or method; each such theme can be viewed from both a disciplinary (linguistics) and interdisciplinary point of view, thus expanding our understanding of certain things and developing new scientific perspectives in Latvia. The description of each issue’s theme is announced in advance here, on the website of the Latvian Language Institute, during the annual Jānis Endzelīns commemoratory conference in Riga (Latvia), alongside a public call for submitting journal papers.
The aims in choosing each issue’s theme are: (1) to help authors look at their research topics from a different perspective, (2) to encourage researchers to search for and test new theoretical and methodological frameworks, and (3) to create a conceptually unified journal, helping readers navigate its range of scientific papers.
Originality and language
Linguistica Lettica publishes original, previously unpublished papers and reviews of current topics in Baltic linguistics by renowned experts and young researchers in Latvian, Lithuanian, English, and German.
Editorial board and reviewers
Linguistica Lettica has an international editorial board consisting of linguistics experts from Latvia, Australia, Estonia, Finland, and Switzerland. In addition, foreign specialists are invited as anonymous reviewers, who evaluate the scientific quality and relevance of the submitted papers.
Publishing and re-publishing policy
Papers are published free of charge in Linguistica Lettica after receiving positive reviews. Each issue of the journal is published open-access, in print and electronic form. The copyright of the papers published in the journal belongs to the authors and the Latvian Language Institute. Reference is mandatory when quoting or republishing.
ISSN 1407-1932
The deadline for the submission of scientific papers: May 22, 2023.
Editors-in-Chief
Solvita BURR, Latvia/USA, University of Latvia / University of Washington
Editor assistant
Kristīne MEŽAPUĶE, Latvia, University of Latvia
Editorial Board
Laimute BALODE, Latvia/Finland, University of Latvia / University of Finland
Ina DRUVIETE, Latvia, University of Latvia
Trevor Garth FENNELL, Australia, Flinders University
Juris GRIGORJEVS, Latvia, University of Latvia
Irēna Ilga JANSONE, Latvia, University of Latvia
Daiva SINKEVIČIŪTĖ-VILLANUEVA-SVENSSON, Lithuania, Vilnius University
Sanda RAPA, Latvia, University of Latvia
Anna STAFECKA, Latvia, University of Latvia
Agris TIMUŠKA, Latvia, University of Latvia
Lembit VABA, Estonia, Institute of the Estonian Language
Bernhard WÄLCHLI, Sweden, Stockholm University
Andrejs VEISBERGS, Latvia, University of Latvia
The 33rd issue of the scientific journal “Linguistica Lettica” aims to combine two crucial concepts in linguistics: family and language.
It is useful to recall why these concepts are so important to linguistic fields such as child language research, family language policy and planning, second language and ethnic heritage language acquisition, slang research, cognitive linguistics, family discourse studies, pragmatics, life story research, and more.
The family is most often the group of people that initiates, shapes, and influences our language experiences. This influence occurs via various important processes, for example: 1) learning specific languages, their variants, and styles; 2) practicing certain speech habits (e.g. intonation changes, forms of address, nicknames, nicknames, and jokes); 3) formation of linguistic attitude towards language(s) used in the family and society; 4) development of the system of values and beliefs (including about the family).
Experience is one of the keywords that unites the two above-mentioned concepts (family and language, respectively). And experience is always an active and continuous process, in which every participant involved has a significant role in shaping certain relational dynamics (including power). Thus, the use of a language(s) in the family and the study of language practices are closely related to contexts where the individual and social levels interact. At the individual level, these are psycho-emotional conditions. At the social level, these are social dynamics within the family itself (family members’ mutual relations), the local community, and society. Language practice shapes both the language experience and the experience of socialization.
Some stimulating questions: Who decides to (not) use one of the parents’ native languages in the family? How is this decision made, and why? Who determines code-switching in bilingual/multilingual families and under what conditions? Why is it that in one family a preschool child with normal physical and mental development speaks in long sentences and willingly engages in conversation with little-known or unfamiliar people, while in another family the child is unable to formulate his thoughts even in simple sentences and feels language anxiety in communication? What is characteristic of a family’s special type of language (familect) and what does it reveal about the relationships of family members?
Moreover, not only are family ties and diverse language experiences essential, but also the sharing of these experiences. For instance, we define what family means to us with specially chosen language means. We reveal to others our attitude towards family; tell stories about family; mention, celebrate, and condemn family, etc., through stylistically marked language means, and thus we create certain narratives about the family. And these narratives, on the one hand, shape the public discourse about the family, and on the other hand, reflect the dominant discourses about the family in society.
We hope that the essay-like reflections on family and language will inspire the contributors to the 33rd issue of this journal to engage in disciplinary or interdisciplinary discussion of both concepts. This issue includes articles on:
1) phonetic, lexical, grammatical, and pragmatic peculiarities of family language(s) and their varieties, from synchronic and diachronic perspectives,
2) choice, management, and use of family language(s) and/or their varieties in bilingual/multilingual families,
3) narratives about the family in various types of texts (diaries, interviews, press, social media, literary works, educational materials, etc.).
Organizational information:
Publications that meet the formatting requirements and receive positive feedback from scientific editors and reviewers will be included in the issue and indexed in the SCOPUS and ERIH PLUS databases.
Latvian Language Institute
of the University of Latvia
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