![Welcome to the Languages of the World](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117194959im_/http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/images/rotatePic11.jpg)
Its closest relative is Lithuanian, but the two languages are not mutually intelligible. Both evolved from common ancestral Proto-Baltic (which split from Proto-Balto-Slavic), but started to split starting around 800 AD. It is thought that there was a long period when Latvian and Lithuanian were two dialects of one language until possibly as late as the 16th-17th centuries, when they finally emerged as distinct languages.
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Despite the small size of the country, Latvian has several mutually intelligible regional dialects. There is some disagreement as to their classification. Latvian scholars traditionally divide them into two groups -- Low Latvian (which includes two sub-dialects: Central and Tamian), and High Latvian. Other scholars refer to them as West Latvian (also known as Central Latvian or Tamian), and East Latvian (also known as High Latvian or Latgalian) which forms the basis for standard Latvian. |
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Latvian has a relatively simple sound system characterized by vowel length and pitch accent. Vowels Consonants Stress
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Latvian is a highly inflected language with a complex grammar. Nouns
Verbs
* expressing necessity of doing something. Click here to learn more about Latvian verb conjugation. Word order |
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Vocabulary Below are some common phrases and words in Latvian.
Below are the Latvian numerals 1-10.
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Historically, Latvian was written with the Latin alphabet, following German spelling patterms. This system was replaced in 1908 by a system designed to more adequately represent the sound system of Latvian. There is a good one-on-one correspondence between letters and phonemes, i.e., sounds that make a difference in word meaning. The modern Latvian standard alphabet consists of 33 letters given below in their printed form.
Take a look at Article 1 of he Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Latvian.
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Click here to find out where Latvian is taught in the United States. Resources for the study of Latvian language and culture |
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How difficult is it to learn Latvian? Latvian is considered to be a Category II language in terms of difficulty for speakers of English. |