Latvian language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Latvian |
|
|---|---|
| Latviešu Valoda | |
| Native to | Latvia, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Venezuela, Finland |
| Region | Europe |
| Native speakers | native 1.39 million (Latvia) 150,000 (Abroad) 1.54 million (Worldwide) second language: 500,000 (date missing) |
| Language family | |
| Writing system | Roman script |
| Official status | |
| Official language in | Latvia, European Union |
| Regulated by | Latvian State Language Center |
The Latvian language (called latviešu valoda in Latvian) is the official language of Latvia. It is sometimes also known as Lettish. About 1.5 million people around the world speak Latvian as their first language. Most of these speakers live in Latvia.
Contents
What is the Latvian Language?
Latvian is a special language because it is one of only two living Baltic languages. The other one is Lithuanian. These languages belong to the Indo-European language family. This family includes many languages spoken in Europe and parts of Asia.
Where is Latvian Spoken?
Most people who speak Latvian live in Latvia. It is their country's official language. However, you can find Latvian speakers in many other countries too. This includes places like Australia, Canada, USA, and the United Kingdom. These are often people who have moved from Latvia.
How Many People Speak Latvian?
Around 1.39 million people in Latvia speak Latvian as their native language. Another 150,000 Latvian speakers live in other countries. This means about 1.54 million people speak Latvian as their first language worldwide. About 500,000 more people speak Latvian as a second language.
The History of Latvian
The Latvian language has a long and interesting history. It developed over many centuries. Like all languages, it has changed and grown over time.
How Latvian is Written
Latvian uses the Roman script, which is the same alphabet English uses. However, it has some special letters with marks above them. These marks change how the letters are pronounced. For example, ā, č, ē, ģ, ī, ķ, ļ, ņ, š, ū, and ž are all part of the Latvian alphabet.
Language Family and Connections
Latvian is part of the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family. This makes it related to languages like Lithuanian. It is also distantly related to Slavic languages like Russian and Polish. It even has very old connections to Germanic and Romance languages.
Interesting Facts About Latvian
Latvian has some unique features that make it special. It has kept many old grammar rules. These rules are similar to those found in very old languages like Sanskrit.
Grammar and Sounds
Latvian grammar uses different endings for words. These endings show what a word's role is in a sentence. This is called declension for nouns and conjugation for verbs. The language also has specific sounds. Some of these sounds are not found in English.
The Latvian State Language Center
The Latvian State Language Center is an important organization. It works to protect and develop the Latvian language. They make sure the language is used correctly. They also help people learn Latvian.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma letón para niños
Images for kids
-
In 1649, the Latvian-speaking Kursenieki lived in an area from Memel (Klaipėda) to Danzig (Gdańsk).
-
This is a dictionary of Polish, Latin, and Latvian languages. It was written by Georgs Elgers and published in Vilnius, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in 1683.
-
An old Latvian Lutheran hymnbook showing old spelling.
-
This is a special Latvian ergonomic keyboard layout, but it is not used very often.
_by_Georgs_Elgers,_Vilnius,_1683.jpg)
