Nauji Latvijos filologijos daktarai

235, 238,about switches — p. 579). Most often, the texts of Latvian folk songs examined throughout the book are compared with the corresponding folk songs of the nearest — Lithuanian language, as well as with examples of the current language”, less often with Germanic, Latin and Ancient Greek equivalents. And from Latvian linguists, the main references were J. Endzelynas, Uozuols (Ozols)*, K. Dravinš, V. Rūke—Dravina and other authors, "Mūsdienu latviešu literarās valodas gramatika" (Grammar of contemporary Latvian literary language. Riga, A. 1959— 1962. T. 1—2). t ; Although a long time has passed between the writing of the monograph and its publication, it is not outdated due to the broad approach of its author, the thoroughness of the analysis and the eternal relevance of the material itself. We hope that this study of A. Gateris, having laid a good foundation, will encourage further research of one of the greatest treasures of Latvian culture — folk songs. The monograph itself (as A. Dzenis requested in the aforementioned article), it must be assumed, will receive deserved attention and competent reviews. : Evija LIPARTE NEW DOCTORS OF LATVIAN PHILOSOPHY Since Baltic studies are not only part of Lithuanian studies, but also of Latvian studies, we also inform about some of the most important events in Latvian linguistics in recent years. After the restoration of independence in 1990, Latvian linguistics has improved significantly both qualitatively and quantitatively. On November 13, 1990, the renowned Latvian linguist Antons Breidaks defended his PhD dissertation (now equivalent to the degree of doctor of philology) at the University of Vilnius, entitled "Latviešu valodas latgaliešu izlokšnu fonētika: diahronija un sinhronija" ("Phonetics of Latvian-- Latgalic dialects: diachrony and synchrony"). A couple of years later, when the new rules for the awarding of doctor of science and habilitation degrees were established in the Republic of Latvia, a large number of new doctors of both degrees joined the group. : Especially generous was the period of spring 1993 — autumn 1994. Then 11 prominent Latvian linguists obtained the degrees of doctors of philological sciences for their researches, and 9 language researchers defended their PhDs in philological sciences at the University of Vilnius. For this purpose, folklore collections (folk songs collected by J. Balis, J. Dovydaitis, A. Juška), grammar by M. D. Klein, A. Sleicher, K. Jaunius, Jon Rygiškis, J. Otrembski (Otrebski) and other authors, dictionaries of the Lithuanian language, studies of the Lithuanian language by K. Būga, J. Jablonskis, S. Daukanto, E. Frenkelis, E. Herman (Hermann), Z. Zinkevičius and other linguists, various Lithuanian publications were extensively used. 6 Since until the publication of this monograph A. Uozuols' book "Latviešu tautasdziesmu valoda" (Latvian folk song language, R., 1961) was the most thorough systematic study of the lexicon and grammar (especially syntax) of Latvian folk songs, it is understandable that A. Gateris relies especially heavily on the aforementioned work of A. Uozuols and other works of this Latvian folk song researcher, which in turn also mention A. Gateris' studies. : : | 223 doctoral theses. In addition, the right to form doctoral dissertation defence committees now belongs not only to the University of Latvia, but also to the Daugavpils Pedagogical University and the Liepaja Pedagogical University. This should encourage the growth of young scientists in Daugavpils and Liepaja. So far, one PhD dissertation in the field of philology has been defended at both of the above-mentioned universities. t On 24 May 1993, the degree of habilitation for the whole of the work on the topic "Aizguta Phraseology of Latvian Language" was awarded to Andrejs Veisbergs, associate professor of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the University of Latvia. Official reviewers —prof. habil. dr. A. Blinkena, Prof. Dr. B. Kangere, Dr. M. Djačkovas. j 31 publications (8 of them books and textbooks) were submitted for defence, many of which are devoted to the problems of the loan vocabulary of Latvian language. These publications show the comprehensiveness, novelty and theoretical depth of the author’s approach. 4000 Latvian phraseologisms were analyzed, of which 1560 were recognized as borrowings. A. Veisbergas shows the dynamics of Latvian language, notes the internationalization of phraseologisms, analyzes their borrowing motives and processes, classifies phraseologisms from the point of view of etymology and stylistic usage. Recenzentai.lt positively evaluated A. Veisbergas’s broad erudition — knowledge of many world languages and peoples’ culture and history. ! It should be added that A. Veisbergs is the youngest doctor of science among Latvian linguists. | On 24 May 1993, the renowned Latvian linguist Konstantins Karulis was awarded the degree of habilitation for his work "Solving some problems in the history of the Latvian language" ("Dažu latviešu valodas vestures problemu risinajums- "). Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. M. Rudzytė (Rudzite), Prof. Dr. W. Schmidt, habil. dr. S. King. The total of the works submitted for the habilitation consists of 47 publications from three fields of language history: 1) linguistic analysis and commentaries of ancient Latvian writings (articles on ancient writings and prefaces and commentaries to five books); 2) studies of the history of individual Latvian words (articles on the use of individual words in ancient writings and changes in the meaning of forms); 3) etymological studies ("Latviešu etimoloģijas vardnica", Riga, 1992, vols. 1—2; several articles on the origin of some Latvian place names and Jotvingian words). The most important of K. Karūlis' works not only in Latvian linguistics, 3 but also in Baltic studies is the jų "Dictionary ir of Latvian Etymology". It is the first etymological dictionary, which summarizes all that has been done in this field by numerous researchers of the Latvian language lexicon. The reviewers, emphasizing the fact that the dictionary contains a large number of supplemented or completely new etymologies, carefully analyzed some of them, criticizing less justified interpretations. It is to be hoped that this etymological dictionary will encourage further research into the origin of Latvian words. On June 21, 1993, Antonina Rekena (Rekena), associate professor of the Liepaja Higher Pedagogical School, was awarded the degree of habilitation for her work "Dienvidlatgales izlokšnu leksika" ("Lexicography of South Latgale dialects"). Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Prof. Dr. V. Rūkė—Dravinia (Ruke—Dravina), Prof. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Prof. Dr. V. Rūkė—Dravinia (Ruke—Dravina), Prof. Dr. V. Rūkė—Dravinia (Ruke—Dravina). A. Sabaliauskas. | A. Rekena’s researches deal with dialect lexical issues in terms of language contacts. 224 For the first time in Latvian language history you will have lunch The material of Latgalian dialects was analyzed in several thematic groups (crafts, agriculture, farming, kinship, dish names). Author excluded 4 direction of researc1) h: south Latgalės tarmių leksikos ryšiai su su kaimynų tautų kalbomis (1975, published in monograph “Amatniecibas leksika dažas Latgales dienvidu izloksnes un tas sakari su atitinkamais nusavinimais slavu valodas”- ). —(“The lexicon of crafts in some southern Latgale dialects and its relationship with the corresponding names of Slavic languages”) and several publications on: both inherited and borrowed lexicon of various thematic groups, prepositional verbs with the service word dar da, toponyms of southern Latgale); 2) parallels of the inherited vocabulary of southern Latgalian dialects and Lithuanian language (the aforementioned monograph, other publications, which examine: common inherited linguistic phenomena, preserved in Latgalian dialects; common borrowings of both languages, borrowings from Lithuanian language); 3) full of three volumes (90 aut. I.) The Kalupe Shnekt Dictionary (presented to the publishing house of the Latgale Cultural Centre); 4) use of dialectic elements in fiction (several publications on dialects in the translation of Goethe's "Faust"). At the same time, the reviewers very positively evaluated A. Rekena’s research on dialectology, language contacts in general and her long-standing fruitful pedagogical work. On September 21, 1993, Elga Kagaine, a research associate of the Latvian Language Institute, was awarded the degree of doctor of sciences for her monograph "Semantiskie dialektismi Ziemelrietumvidzemes izloksnes" ("Semantic dialectisms in the dialects of North-West Vidzeme"), published in Riga in 1992. Official reviewers: prof. habil. dr. M. Rudzytė, prof. habil. dr. A. Rekena, prof. habil. dr. A. Blinken; written comments received from V. Vitkauskas (LKI), Z. Zinkevičius (VU), L. Vaba (Institute of Estonian Language). The monograph examines the semantics of North-West Vidzeme dialects (material collected from 21 dialects) against the background of Latvian common language, attempts to explain the processes of semantic differences in dialects, their causes and place in the general lexical semantic system, in the context of various linguistic and extralinguistic factors. The thesis highlights the development trends of semantics, focuses on typological parallels and semantic borrowings. In this regard, special attention is paid to: semantic parallels that may have arisen under the influence of Baltic Finnish languages (the influence of these languages is determined by the geographical location of the study area). Three groups of semantic parallels are analyzed in more detail: 1) semantic-grammatical parallels (especially the use of constructs verb + adverb); 2) semantic parallels related to the specific meanings of the local forms of the words head, back, back, back; 3) semantic parallels of specific meanings of individual words (e.g., verb likt). This monograph has been recognized as a very significant and valuable contribution to Latvian linguistics, especially the relatively little studied field of semantics. On October 12, 1993, Valentina Skujinia (Skujina), Head of the Terminology Department of the Latvian Language Institute, was awarded the degree of habilitation for her work on the topic "Principles of the development of Latvian terminology- ". Official reviewers: prof. habil. dr. A. Blinkena, habil. dr. K. Karulis, Prof. Habil. Dr. J. Rosenberg. V. Skujinia has worked in the field of Latvian terminology for 30 years and has written 20 articles on the theory and practice of terminology and a monograph "Latviešu terminoloģijas izstrades principi". These works set out the theoretical basis of Latvian terminology, specify the general concept of the term, clarify its specificity, more characteristic features and place in the lexical system. Based on the extensive material and the conclusions made in the process of its analysis, intra-, inter-, extra-linguistic and other principles of terminological work are described, more productive Latvian term formation models are identified. Attention was drawn to the very topical issue of national and ir international debts, i.e. the establishment of strict terms of borrowing criteria, the selection of Latvian names instead of unnecessary debts. Therefore, į V. Skujiņa’s works are particularly relevant to the practice of Latvian language, her o monograph allows to talk - about terminology as an independent Latvian science field. On November 2, 1993, the degree of habilitation doctor for the whole of the work on the topic "Romanu cilmes aizguvumi latviešu valoda" ("Romanu origin borrowings in Latvian language- ") was awarded to Andrejs Bankauskas, associate professor of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the University of Latvia. Official reviewers: prof. habil. dr. A. Blinkena, prof. habil. dr. J. Rosenberg. prof. habil. dr. A. Weissbergas. The work submitted for defense consists of more than 30 scientific articles on a topic whose importance in Latvian linguistics has not been well understood so far. A. Bankava- 's research, based on a very large amount of material, shows that a large number of borrowed words (about 3,000) in Latvian are from Romance languages. Furthermore, the author's publications distinguish between direct and indirect borrowings, i.e. it is indicated which borrowings came directly from Romance languages and which through other (intermediate) languages. The historical periodization of the borrowing of Romances is also given — three stages of the arrival of these borrowings into the Latvian language are distinguished. Attention is also drawn to the thematic groups of borrowed words and the semantic relationships of these words: their meanings in Latvian and in the language from which they are borrowed. The reviewers emphasized the novelty and significance of A. Bankava’s works, filling a large gap in Latvian linguistics. Expressed wishes that the results of the work will be. summarize in a monograph or a dictionary of borrowings, as they should be more easily accessible and used in the work of other researchers. "On December 14, 1993, the researcher Benita Laumane, head of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, was awarded the degree of habilitation for the whole of her work on the topic "Analysis of the Latvian sea fishing vocabulary (relief, sea, flora, fauna)". Official reviewers: prof. habil. dr. M. Rudzytė, prof. habil. dr. A. Rekena, habil. dr. A. Sabaliauskas. Lie Habilitantés’s scientific interests are mainly related to area linguistics and the study of fishing lexicon. The works submitted for defence consist of a monograph "Zvejvietu nosaukumi Latvijas PSR piekraste" ("Fishing places names on the coast of the Latvian SSR"), published in Riga in 1987, and a number of published articles on coastal terrain terms, names of marine flora and fauna. Both the monograph and the articles are based on extensive factual material, which the author has collected since the sixties. The lexical material has been examined comprehensively in the publications: attempts were made to clarify the history, origin, distribution in Latvian dialects and use in written sources of various terms and titles; the structure and semantics of names are analyzed, their formation methods are explained. In addition, B. Laumane has written and 226 Ai rs kl 1 aa in M ERE | a en submitted to the press a monograph of 18 author's arcs "Zeme, jūra, zvejvietas" ("Land, Sea, Fishing Places"). On December 14, 1993, the degree of habilitation for the monograph “Language culture from a theoretical point of view” was awarded to Inta Freimane, a professor of the Faculty of Philology of the University of Latvia. Official reviewers: prof. habil. dr. M. Rudzytė, prof. habil. dr. A. Blinkena, habil. dr. V. Skujinia. Based on a very large amount of linguistic material (about 150 thousand units) and the conclusions of other linguists (especially Russian and Czech linguists), I. Freiman has formed her own concept of language culture, literary norm. The author has set the following tasks: 1) creation of the theoretical basis of language; 2) accumulation of language material; 3) selection and description of analytical methods and instruments. Taking into account the following tasks, the author has created the following chapters of the monograph: 1) "Language culture as a field of science" (the most important functions of language are examined); 2) "The basic questions of the theory of language culture" (language is considered as a structurally functional system); 3) "Functional violations of Latvian literary language norms from a theoretical point of view" (in this larger section, the language errors of the most diverse levels are analyzed and classified in detail, and the adaptation of interdentinal words in Latvian is discussed); 4) "Functional use of language tools". Although the reviewers are pabreze. that some theoretical questions of language can be discussed (e.g., about definitions of language some And their development, about the treatment of specific examples or inclusion in a certain subset of the language system, etc.), the monograph was recognized as a significant work not only for the theory of Latvian literary language, but also for linguistic practice. The author was advised to compile a practical language culture guide based on the material of the third chapter of the monograph. On 30 November 1993 Brigita Bušmane, senior research associate of the Institute of Latvian Language, received the degree of habilitation for her monograph "Nicas izloksne" ("Nicas dialect"), published in Riga in 1989. Official reviewers- .—Prof. habil. dr. A. Blinkena, prof. habil. dr. M. Rudzytė, habil. dr. E. Kagaine. This monograph is one of the most comprehensive descriptions of Latvian speakers prepared in recent decades. It examines the phonetic and morphological phenomena of the Nysa schnekt, which differ from the general Latvian language and are not common in other dialects, on the basis of comparison of spoken language and folk songs. Wide. Lexical and semantic dialectisms of folk songs recorded in Nycae are described. By discussing more characteristic phonetic and morphological features, it is clarified which of the features recorded in songs are no longer found in spoken language. The dialects of folk songs have been supplemented with material recorded in recent decades and partly described in terms of their origin. In 1990, the author was awarded the J. Endzelynas Prize and the A. Abelės Memorial Prize for her monograph. On January 20, 1994 at Vilnius University he obtained the doctoral thesis "Latviešu augšzemnieku izlokšnu zilbes prosodija: Eksperimentals petijums” 227 ("Prosody of the syllable of Latvian Upperland speakers: Experimental investigation") was defended by Dace Markus, Head of the Department of Latvian: Language and Literature of the Faculty of Education of the University of Latvia. Official opponents: habil. dr. E. Kagainė, habil. dr. S. Karaliūnas; written feedback —Department of Baltic Languages, Faculty of Philology, University of Latvia (prof. habil. dr. M. Rudzytė, lecturer J. Kuškis) and Institute of Latvian Language (dr. J. Valdmanis). In the dissertation, 18 speeches were analyzed by experimental method (16 of them according to the program for checking the syllable prosody). The larger part of the work was carried out in the Laboratory of Experimental Phonetics of Vilnius University and the Computing Center, using computer programs of Prof. A. Girdenis. For the first time in Latvian linguistics syllable intonations of one dialect were analyzed from a phonological point of view and systematically, their variants and variations were clarified, and conclusions about dominant differential indicators in the prefix systems of the prefixed and non-prefixed speakers, about phonological oppositions, prefix models and phoneme neutralization were verified by experimental method. In this way, D. Markus’s description of the prosodic system of the upland dialects of Latvian is experimentally verified (the work is supplemented by 137 oscillograms and spectograms), mathematically proven and based on the perspective of linguistics., The reviewers underlined the significance of D. Markus’s findings for Latvian phonology, their importance for the updating and creation of Latvian experimental phonetics and phonology, and for the further development of Latvian dialectology. On September 20, 1994, the lead researcher of the Latvian Language Institute, Ojars Bušs, was awarded the doctorate of habilitation for his work “Latviešu valodas leksikas cilme, vesture un mūsdienu lietojums” (“The origin, history and current use of the Latvian language lexicon”). Official reviewers: prof. habil. dr. J. Rozenbergas, Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Weisbergas, habil. dr. E. Kagaine. 4 A collection of 50 scientific articles published after 1980 was submitted for defence. The author has grouped his works into five chapters: 1) questions of lexicology theory (on the norms of codified, common and spoken language and dialect, on the so-called lexical internationalisms, on the semantics of actual noun meanings and forms, etc.); 2) several aspects of the history of the Latvian appellative lexicon (borrowing from Germanic and Curonian languages, parallels in the semantic structure of words in Baltic and Baltic-Finnish languages, etc.); 3) the origin of Latvian toponyms (regarding the origin of the Curonian and some other hydronyms, e.g. Perse, Gauja); 4) notes on the origin and usage of personal names (about as-. menvardzius And their functions in contemporary poetry, about the dynamics and popularity of contemporary Latvian personal names, about names of other nations, e.g. Prussians, Lithuanians, in the Latvian personal name system, about Baltic and pseudo-Baltic anthroponyms in the Finnish surname register, about the principles of reconstruction of personal names of other languages used in Latvian, etc. ); 5) the processes of the development of the lexicon of the current Latvian language (regarding the exclusion of non-dialectal non-literary vocabulary, especially barbarisms, from the "Dictionary of the Latvian Literary Language", its application in fictional literature, the individual methods of the formation of compound words in the Latvian common language, about school slang, borrowed from Latvian in the Russian colloquial language, changed street names in Riga, etc.). The reviewers recognised this comprehensiveness and the ability to analyze and theoretically solve various problems of both diachronic and synchronic Latvian 228 linguistics as one of the most characteristic features of O. Bush’s scientific activity. At the same time, it was requested to devote more attention to one direction of research, so that in the future there would be a further publication of Latvian place names and a new monograph on the Curonians. On June 18, 1993, the doctoral dissertation "Nomenu saknu fonotaktiska struktūra mūsdienu latviešu valoda (salidzinajuma ar mūsdienu lietuviešu valodu)" ("The phonotactic structure of noun roots in the present Latvian language (compared with the present Lithuanian language)") was defended by Dzintra Šulce, Head of the Department of Latvian Language and Literature of the Liepaja Higher Pedagogical School. Scientific supervisors of the dissertation: habil. dr. L. Ceplytis (Ceplitis), prof. habil. dr. A. Girdenis, official opponents: habil. dr. A. Sabaliauskas, doc. dr. D. Markus. The dissertation examines the phonotactic aspect of the morpheme of ordinary nouns roots, determining their phonotactic structure and phoneme compounds in these roots, analyzing consonant phoneme compounds in various positions (at the beginning, middle and end of the root), studying vowel compounds with consonants i and their frequency of use in roots (separately examined roots with one vowel — in the I work section; with two vowels — in the II work section). The productivity of the phonotactic structure of the roots was also determined and the phonotactic structure of Latvian and Lithuanian nouns was compared (based on V. Karosienės dissertation "Phonotactic structure of noun roots in contemporary Lithuanian language"). It is concluded that the phonotactic structure of both languages is close to the Indo-European model, and the basic structural types completely coincide. The reviewers emphasized the novelty of this dissertation and its great significance not only for Latvian linguistics (especially for the theoretical and empirical foundations of the morphological system), but also for Baltic studies and Indo-European studies. Be it. this work can be used in language teaching process and speech therapy (the dissertation appendix also contains phonotactic analysis of Latvian language * Alphabets). The dissertation thesis was also acknowledged for its accuracy and independence, and the wishes were expressed that the work should be continued by examining other parts of the language and data from other languages. On September 21, 1993, Lidija Leikuma, a lecturer at the Department of Baltic Languages of the Faculty of Philology of the University of Latvia, defended her doctoral dissertation “Darbibas vards Kraslavas, Aulejas, Skaistas un Izvaltas izloksne” (The work of the name Kraslavas, Aulejas, Skaistas and Izvaltas in the pronunciation). Scientific supervisor of the dissertation is Prof. Dr. M. Rudzyte, official reviewers: Prof. Dr. A. Rekena, prof. habil. dr. A. Breidakas, Dr. A. Stafecka. The dissertation is the first study specifically devoted to the Latvian spoken verb. As the author points out, the verb system of the four examined South Latgalian dialects is interesting because of the intertwining of archaic forms i and innovations, because of some very rare forms. The system of verbs and their forms is examined by comparing it with the common Latvian language, other dialects, Lithuanian and Slavic languages (two chapters are dedicated to these questions: II. Finitive forms; III. The role of various extralinguistic factors in the formation of the examined dialects is also explained (this is discussed in the first chapter of the thesis), the causes and trends of the variability or permanence of the verb forms system are shown. The dissertation is supplemented by a list of verbs, their forms and meanings, tables and maps 229 showed the prevalence of the discussed forms in the examined speeches. On October 12, 1993, the doctoral degree for the work "Galvenas leksikografijas problemas" ("The most important problems of lexicography") was awarded to the associate professor of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the University of Latvia | Janis Raškevičius | (Raškevičiai). Official reviewers —prof. habil. dr. V. Agamdzanova, dr. M. Stengrevica, dr. J. Sylis (Silis). As noted by the reviewers, J. Raškevičius has worked very fruitfully in the field of practical lexicography: he is one of the authors of several Latvian—English and English—Latvian dictionaries, one of the authors of *Anglu—latviešu frazeologiskas vardnicas" ("English-Latvian Phraseological Dictionary") published in 1993, the compiler of two editions of "Latviešu—anglu sarunvardnicas" ("Latvian—English Conversation Dictionary") and "Dictionary of verb—adverb nouns" (Dictionary of verb—adverb nouns: Riga, 1971). J. Raškevičius has also published articles on the problems of lexicography. On November 2, 1993, the doctoral dissertation "Baltijas jūras somu geografiskie apelativi un to relikti Latvijas vietvardos" ("Baltic Sea Finnish geographical apelatives and their relics in Latvian place names") was defended by the research associate of the Latvian Language Institute Kersti Boiko. Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Dr. L. Vaba, Dr. O. Bušas. The dissertation examines Latvian place names with geographical appellatives of Baltic Finnish origin and their relics. Geographical appellatives can often indicate the substrate of a national minority (rarely —borrowings) and can be perceived as untranslatable words, without equivalent. Since geographical adjectives are very often used in the formation of place names, the place names in question constitute a significant part of all Baltic Finnish place names in Latvia. As noted by the reviewers, the aim of the work is to propose new etymologies of place names and systematize existing ones; to establish the geographical distribution of the Baltic Finns, the area relations of Latvian place names with Estonian dialects — not only achieved, but even exceeded, because the dissertation gives serious clarifications of Estonian and Lybian inhabited territories, possible migrations. It is also worth noting that this dissertation is the first research devoted exclusively to Finno-Ugric languages to be defended in Riga. Therefore, the author has been proposed to be awarded a doctorate in Finno-Ugrics. On November 30, 1993, Ilga Jansone, a research associate of the Institute of Latvian Language, defended her doctoral dissertation entitled “Galvas un plecu segu nosaukumi latviešu valodas izloksnes” (“Names of head and shoulder covers in the Latvian language snakts”). Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Dr. E. Kagainė, Dr. B Reidzané; written response was received from the history of sciences habil. dr. A. Alsupės. The thesis is devoted to one thematic group of Latvian spoken language vocabulary —the names of head and shoulder covers of bearers. The dissertation was based on both language (dialects) and ethnographic material (ethnographic description of the examined realities is presented in the first chapter of the dissertation). The aim of the thesis: 1) to present a detailed set of the examined realities names in Latvian dialects (chapter II); 2) to clarify the basic principles of semantic motivation of these names (Chapter III, which analyses in detail 230 the methods of formation of names and the characteristics of motivation); 3) provide possible etymologies. At the end of the thesis, 7 maps showing the prevalence of the names are given. All the dissertation reviewers acknowledged that the author of the work achieved her goals. In the opinion of the thesis author, to obtain a complete picture of the names of head and shoulder covers in Latvian dialects; necessary and comprehensive study of the names of sewed headgear. On December 21, 1993, Agris Timuška, a research associate of the Latvian Language Institute, defended his doctoral dissertation "Ziemelvidzemes izlokšnu salidzinajumi un to leksikografiska interpretācija" ("Comparisons of North Vidzeme dialects and their lexicographic interpretation"). Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Dr. E. Kagainė, Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Blinken; written response received from the Lithuanian Language Institute (K. Morkūnas). The dissertation examines one of the types of dialectal dictionaries —aspectual dictionaries, which lexicographically reflect a certain one language phenomenon. The basis of the dissertation is the dictionary "Sinoles izloksnes salidzinajumu vardnica" ("Sinoles schnekt comparative dictionary"- ), prepared by the author together with the philologist M. Putnina (Putnina) (about 20th of January) and presented to the publishing house "Zinatne" in 1991. It is the first dictionary of its kind in Latvian dialect lexicography. M. Putninia prepared the material for the dialect dictionary. o the dissertation work — determination of the principles of the dictionary structure, lexicographic processing of the material, semantic analysis. These issues are also discussed in the dissertation. In its introduction there is a summary of previous comparative studies (as an example for the compilation of the dictionary K. B. Vosylytė's "Lietuvių kalbos palyginimų žodynas" has been used). The first analytical part of the dissertation describes the comparisons of the dialects by comparing them with the equivalents of the common language and according to their themes and semantics, and the second part presents an introduction to the comparative dictionaries. The reviews positively evaluated the novelty of the dictionary, emphasized its relevance, the dissertation’s deepening into lexicographic work, the ability to interpret the meanings of words and comparisons. The wishes were expressed that the dictionary should be published quickly and that its author should continue the study of dialect comparisons, drawing attention to other types of comparisons that are not discussed in this dissertation. On December 21, 1993, Sarmite Lagzdina, a research associate of the Latvian Language Institute, defended her doctoral dissertation “Funkcionalie verbi veclatviešu rakstu valoda” (“Functional verbs in the old Latvian written language”). Official reviewers: prof. habil. dr. A. Blinkena, habil. dr. K. Karulis, Prof. Habil. Dr. J. Rozenbergas; written comments —from habil. dr. A. Bankavo (University of Latvia) and A. Paulauskienė, J. Balkevičius (University of Vilnius). The term functional verbs (FV) here refers to verbs in the analytical combination verb + noun, denoting one verbal concept and forming an analytical predicate in the syntactic structure of the sentence. The aim of the thesis is to identify in the old Latvian written sources certain verb combinations of the aforementioned structure, which form or may form 231