The Livonian language, spoken for centuries in Latvia, gradually declined until the death of its last fluent native speaker, Grizelda Kristiņa, on 2 June 2013. Nevertheless, today there are several ethnic Livonians that are striving for the revival of the language, with about 210 people with some knowledge of it in the world.
Map of Latvia showing the historical distribution of the Livonian language (in grey) and the current areas with some knowledge of it (in black)
The Livonian language became extinct on 2 June 2013 when Grizelda Kristiņa, its last fluent native speaker, died at age 103.[2] She had left Latvia in 1944 due to its occupation by the Soviets and settled in Canada, where she lived until her death.[1] She helped researchers preserve the language while being there. Shortly before her death, in the Latvian census of 2011, some 250 people declared their ethnicity to be Livonian.[2]
Revivaledit
Since the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, the Livonian language has been undergoing a revival process.[1] As of 1998, there were already young Livonian volunteers motivated with the idea of reviving the language. Some of them were taught it by Livonian teachers through a textbook made by Kersti Boiko, a professor at the University of Latvia, with 800 words designed to be taught on 10 lessons. A collection of Livonian poems had also been published and printed by then.[3] A decade later, the movement was still popular among Livonian youth, some of whom met regularly in Riga, the Latvian capital, and then went to the village of Mazirbe (where there is a Livonian cultural center) or to Livonian language-only camps.[4]
The Livonian language revival movement is not being supported by either the government of Latvia or any other (such as the Estonian one), so it depends on Livonian cultural organizations. Some examples of these are the Livonian Association (Līvõd Īt), the Society of Friends of Livonia (Liivi Sõprade Selts) or the Livonian Cultural Center (Līvõ Kultūr Sidām). These organize cultural events and publish studies on the Livonians, including their language.[5]
As of 2011, the number of people who had some knowledge of the language at a level of A1 or A2 was of 210, while those who had a knowledge of B1 or higher were 40. Some of them learned what they know of the language through programs of the Latvian Academy of Culture or the universities of Tartu, Helsinki or Latvia.[6]
On 25 January 2023, a Livonian-language traffic sign, the first of its kind in Latvia, was erected in Talsi Municipality (Tālsa mōgõn) to reflect its Livonian cultural heritage. Several other signs of this type are planned to be established in the region.[7]
^ abcMawhood, Will (6 October 2020). ""We have a strange destiny": a conversation with the Livonian poet Valts Ernštreits: Part I". Global Voices.
^ abCharter, David (5 June 2013). "Death of a language: last ever speaker of Livonian passes away aged 103". The Times.
^"Revival of Livonian language in Latvia" (PDF). Newsletter of Foundation for Endangered Languages. Ogmios. 10: 14–15. December 1998.
^Wolters, Christiane (17 June 2007). "Keeping Livonian – Latvia's Lesser Known Language – Alive". Deutsche Welle.
^Moseley, Christopher (2014). "Livonian – the most endangered language in Europe?". Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics. 5 (1): 61–75. CiteSeerX10.1.1.832.3562.
^Ernštreits, Valts (14 December 2011). . Livones.net (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
^Laugen, Lauri (27 January 2023). "Lätis püstitati ajaloo esimene liivikeelse kirjaga liiklusmärk". Delfi (in Estonian).
External linksedit
Livones.net, a website with information about Livonian culture, history and language
The Livonian–Estonian–Latvian dictionary of the Livonian Institute of the University of Latvia
Mierlinkizt, an annual summer camp for Livonian children for teaching them their culture and language
October 30, 2023
livonian, language, revival, livonian, language, spoken, centuries, latvia, gradually, declined, until, death, last, fluent, native, speaker, grizelda, kristiņa, june, 2013, nevertheless, today, there, several, ethnic, livonians, that, striving, revival, langu. The Livonian language spoken for centuries in Latvia gradually declined until the death of its last fluent native speaker Grizelda Kristina on 2 June 2013 Nevertheless today there are several ethnic Livonians that are striving for the revival of the language with about 210 people with some knowledge of it in the world Map of Latvia showing the historical distribution of the Livonian language in grey and the current areas with some knowledge of it in black Contents 1 Background 2 Revival 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBackground editThe Livonian language is a Finnic language similar to Estonian and Finnish spoken in Latvia Its gradual decline which had already been occurring for centuries earlier was accelerated after the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 The Soviet Army took control of the Livonian Coast the place where a few hundred Livonian speakers still remained and restricted access to the area 1 The Livonian language became extinct on 2 June 2013 when Grizelda Kristina its last fluent native speaker died at age 103 2 She had left Latvia in 1944 due to its occupation by the Soviets and settled in Canada where she lived until her death 1 She helped researchers preserve the language while being there Shortly before her death in the Latvian census of 2011 some 250 people declared their ethnicity to be Livonian 2 Revival editSince the restoration of Latvian independence in 1991 the Livonian language has been undergoing a revival process 1 As of 1998 there were already young Livonian volunteers motivated with the idea of reviving the language Some of them were taught it by Livonian teachers through a textbook made by Kersti Boiko a professor at the University of Latvia with 800 words designed to be taught on 10 lessons A collection of Livonian poems had also been published and printed by then 3 A decade later the movement was still popular among Livonian youth some of whom met regularly in Riga the Latvian capital and then went to the village of Mazirbe where there is a Livonian cultural center or to Livonian language only camps 4 The Livonian language revival movement is not being supported by either the government of Latvia or any other such as the Estonian one so it depends on Livonian cultural organizations Some examples of these are the Livonian Association Livod it the Society of Friends of Livonia Liivi Soprade Selts or the Livonian Cultural Center Livo Kultur Sidam These organize cultural events and publish studies on the Livonians including their language 5 As of 2011 the number of people who had some knowledge of the language at a level of A1 or A2 was of 210 while those who had a knowledge of B1 or higher were 40 Some of them learned what they know of the language through programs of the Latvian Academy of Culture or the universities of Tartu Helsinki or Latvia 6 On 25 January 2023 a Livonian language traffic sign the first of its kind in Latvia was erected in Talsi Municipality Talsa mōgon to reflect its Livonian cultural heritage Several other signs of this type are planned to be established in the region 7 See also editList of revived languages Cornish language revival Maori language revival Revival of the Hebrew languageReferences edit a b c Mawhood Will 6 October 2020 We have a strange destiny a conversation with the Livonian poet Valts Ernstreits Part I Global Voices a b Charter David 5 June 2013 Death of a language last ever speaker of Livonian passes away aged 103 The Times Revival of Livonian language in Latvia PDF Newsletter of Foundation for Endangered Languages Ogmios 10 14 15 December 1998 Wolters Christiane 17 June 2007 Keeping Livonian Latvia s Lesser Known Language Alive Deutsche Welle Moseley Christopher 2014 Livonian the most endangered language in Europe Journal of Estonian and Finno Ugric Linguistics 5 1 61 75 CiteSeerX 10 1 1 832 3562 Ernstreits Valts 14 December 2011 Libiesu valodas situacija Livones net in Latvian Archived from the original on 2 February 2014 Laugen Lauri 27 January 2023 Latis pustitati ajaloo esimene liivikeelse kirjaga liiklusmark Delfi in Estonian External links editLivones net a website with information about Livonian culture history and language The Livonian Estonian Latvian dictionary of the Livonian Institute of the University of Latvia Mierlinkizt an annual summer camp for Livonian children for teaching them their culture and language Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Livonian language revival amp oldid 1161045476, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
