Gunta Klava | University of Latvia (original) (raw)

Papers by Gunta Klava

BRILL eBooks, May 8, 2023

Valoda: nozīme un forma, Dec 1, 2022

Multiethnica, 2021

This article describes two projects created by the Livonian Institute at the University of Latvia... more This article describes two projects created by the Livonian Institute at the University of Latvia to promote Livonian language learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. The value and role of digital solutions increased during this period, becoming a part of every aspect of daily life. Despite the circumstances created by the pandemic, there have also been positive developments for language learning and endangered language maintenance. The pandemic seems to have prompted a change in perspective on Livonian language preservation as well as its role and function. This shift convinced the Livonian community as well as the broader society that Livonian-despite its small number of speakers-deserves the same opportunities as every other language. In this context, two new Livonian language learning projects are discussed: (1) online Livonian language lessons originally developed as an instructional module for schools, which was the first time in history that Livonian was included in a Latvian school curriculum; and (2) the next step in language-learning basics: a series of songs written by Livonian authors intended for children and young people. These initiatives show that in a difficult situation, a flexible approach and creative solutions can place even a small language on a more equal footing when competing with larger languages. 2020, as the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, was marked by various restrictions everywhere on gathering, movement, and public events, which affected all levels of society. However, these restrictions did not only have negative effects; the year of the pandemic also made activists involved in the maintenance of Livonian rethink existing approaches, search for new opportunities and solutions, and use them more actively so that everyday life could continue in times of crisis. It has also shown that remote-use and digital solutions are not just a matter of convenience, but can be a daily necessity. The circumstances of the pandemic affected the already fragile situation of the Livonian language-both the opportunity to gather and hold events, and the language maintenance and learning process. Regarding Livonian, the number of speakers decreased critically during the time of Soviet occupation and now only about twenty to thirty people worldwide, including scientists and researchers, know the language sufficiently to be able to communicate, making each limit placed on its use critical for language vitality. But looking back on the year of the pandemic there is a hope that the Livonian language has become stronger than before. Activities in the field of preservation, development, and popularisation of the Livonian language that started before the pandemic continued after restrictions were put into place by changing emphasis and approach; new opportunities and solutions were also used more widely. The article summarises the results of the study of the language learning needs and multiethnica

Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri, Sep 5, 2022

In the context of endangered languages, the linguistic landscape is viewed as an effective way of... more In the context of endangered languages, the linguistic landscape is viewed as an effective way of expressing the symbolic value of a language and enhancing language awareness. It is an area where Livonian has been present only sporadically and with the activity of community members, their supporters, and local institutions over time. This article describes the path of Livonian to a more pronounced presence in the linguistic landscape and its possible significance in the language revitalisation process. This article also describes the laws defining the status and use of Livonian in the public space in Latvia as well as Livonian language practice, including a historical overview of the presence of Livonian in the linguistic landscape. This article also identifies the path for the inclusion of Livonian on official road signs, touching upon the formal and substantive arguments of institutions as well as providing insight into the necessity for the use of Livonian in the public space and the role of the linguistic landscape as a significant input both for language awareness in the community and for the strengthening of understanding of the benefits of multilingualism and multiculturalism in the general public.

Valoda nozīme un forma / Language Meaning and Form, 2017

Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri. Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics, 2018

This article examines the role of Livonian in present-day Latvia and describes the Livonian langu... more This article examines the role of Livonian in present-day Latvia and describes the Livonian language situation in the context of Latvia’s language situation and current sociolinguistic issues. It describes how Livonian language and culture are represented in Latvian law, along with possibilities for realising Livonian language rights, bringing attention to the Livonians as an ethnicity, and understanding issues relating to Livonian, while also describing the use of terminology in the Livonian context. The Livonians cannot exactly be described as a “minority”. The Livonians are something more, they are a part of the modern Latvian language and also of Latvian culture and the culture of Latvia in general. And yet, the Livonian nation and language are independent entities. Therefore, the position of Livonian within Latvia should be seen from two perspectives: the preservation, development, and revitalisation of the use of Livonian as well as the mutual influence of Livonian and Latvian...

Emakeele Seltsi aastaraamat, 2021

Artikli valmimist on toetatud järeldoktorantuuri projektist "Euroopa keeleõppe raamdokumendi rake... more Artikli valmimist on toetatud järeldoktorantuuri projektist "Euroopa keeleõppe raamdokumendi rakendamine liivi keelele: uus võimalus ohustatud keelte jaoks" (nr 1.1.1.2/VIAA/3/19/527). Artikli valmimisele aitas kaasa TTÜ veebipõhine kõnetuvastus (Alumäe jt 2018).

Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics / Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri, 2021

This article offers a comparative analysis of several morphosyntactic and phonological features i... more This article offers a comparative analysis of several morphosyntactic and phonological features in the South Estonian language islands: Leivu, Lutsi, and Kraasna. The objective is to give an overview of the distribution of selected features, their (in)stability over time, and discuss their form and use in a broader areal context. To achieve this goal, comparative information was also included from the closest cognate varieties (Estonian and the South Estonian varieties, Courland Livonian and Salaca Livonian) and the main contact varieties (Latgalian, Latvian, and Russian). The data analysed in this study originated from various sources: text collections, dictionaries, and language corpora. The results reveal a multitude of linguistic patterns and distribution patterns, which means that the studied varieties are similar to / different from one another in various ways and points to multifaceted contact situations and outcomes in this area.

Digital Humanities in the Nordic Countries Conference, 2020

The Livonians are a Finno-Ugric nation indigenous to Latvia. They are presently the most endanger... more The Livonians are a Finno-Ugric nation indigenous to Latvia. They are presently the most endangered culture in the European Union and their language is one of the most endangered languages in the world. The Livonian speech community lost its last compactly inhabited territory during the Soviet occupation of Latvia and since then has experienced a steady but continuous loss of Livonian language speakers. Today, only approximately 20 people are able to hold a conversation in Livonian. While presently living scattered across Latvia, with their language no longer used as a medium of daily interaction, the Livonian community has taken this challenging reality and turned it to its advantage in its approach to creating language resources from a limited set of human and archival resources. This article is devoted specifically to the subject of digital humanities in the service of endangered languages and cultures. Understanding the specifics of endangered and especially critically endangered languages and cultures, which actually form the majority of the world's cultural and linguistic diversity, is critically important both in building tailor-made digital resources for such communities and applying ready-made instruments for their benefit. This article offers a broader picture of the challenges and opportunities that developers of digital resources for critically endangered languages and cultures have to take into account, based on the Livonian experience. The article summarises and presents some of the findings and ideas deriving from the creation of digital resources and tools for the Livonian language and culture, approaches for overcoming a lack of resources and limited data issues, as well benefits and experiences that low resourceespecially extremely low resourcecultures and languages can derive from the Livonian experience.

Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri. Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics, 2021

Eesti ja Soome-Ugri Keeleteaduse Ajakiri

The article provides insight into the process of various grammatical changes in Livonian and Latv... more The article provides insight into the process of various grammatical changes in Livonian and Latvian that have taken place as a result of prolonged contact between the languages. Livonian is strongly influenced by Latvian at different levels due to the close contact between the speakers of two languages; it is necessary to note that speakers of Livonian were bilinguals for a long time. It is clear that Livonian has affected Latvian in a similar way. The process of mutual borrowings can be observed most clearly in the vocabulary, especially in dialects; however, there are changes that have occurred in the phonetics and grammar as well. Different changes can be found as a result of mutual influence. The paper presents case studies illustrating the changes of the case system in Livonian-the disappearance of exterior locative cases and the formation of dative, the merging of the translative and the comitative and the formation of the instrumental, the development of prefixes from inherited words, composition of negation, as well as semantic changes in the Latvian locative, formation of Latvian compounds using the Livonian pattern, formation of perfective verb forms using the construction 'motion verb + adverb' instead of Latvian prefix verbs. Although the grammatical structure of a language is considered to be relatively resistant to change, grammatical changes may occur in languages that are not related but are located in close proximity to one another for a long time. The results of Livonian and Latvian contact demonstrate that clearly.