235, 238; on conjunctions — p. 579).

Throughout the book, the Latvian folk-song texts under discussion are most often compared with corresponding folk songs in the closest language, Lithuanian, as well as with examples from contemporary language⁵; less often, they are compared with equivalents in Germanic, Latin, and Ancient Greek. Among Latvian linguists, the studies of J. Endzelīns, A. Uozuols (Ozols)⁶, K. Draviņš, V. Rūķe—Draviņa, and other authors were drawn on most extensively, as was “Mūsdienu latviešu literārās valodas gramatika” (Grammar of Contemporary Latvian Literary Language. Riga, 1959–1962. Vols. 1–2).

Although a long time passed between the writing and publication of the monograph, its author’s broad perspective, the thoroughness of its analysis, and the enduring relevance of the material itself have kept it from becoming outdated. We hope that this scholarly work by A. Gateris, having laid a sound foundation, will encourage further research into one of the greatest treasures of Latvian culture—the folk songs. The monograph itself (as A. Dzenis wished in the aforementioned article) will, one may assume, receive the attention it deserves and competent reviews.

Evija LIPARTĖ

NEW DOCTORS OF PHILOLOGY IN LATVIA

Since Baltic studies encompasses not only Lithuanian studies but also Latvian studies, we report on some of the most important developments in Latvian linguistics in recent years.

Since the restoration of independence (1990), Latvian linguistics has advanced considerably, both qualitatively and quantitatively. On November 13, 1990, the eminent Latvian linguist Antonas Breidak as defended his doctoral dissertation in philology (this degree is now equivalent to the habilitated doctor degree), entitled “Latviešu valodas latgalisko izlokšņu fonētika: diahronija un sinhronija” (“The Phonetics of the Latgalian Dialects of the Latvian Language: Diachrony and Synchrony”) at Vilnius University. A couple of years later, after new regulations for awarding doctoral and habilitated doctoral degrees had been adopted in the Republic of Latvia, he was joined by a fairly large group of new doctors at both levels.

The period from the spring of 1993 to the autumn of 1994 was particularly fruitful. During that time, 11 prominent Latvian linguists earned habilitated doctorates in philology for their research, while 9 language researchers defended their doctorates in philology

⁵For this purpose, extensive use was made of collections of folklore (folk songs collected by J. Balys, J. Dovydaitis, and A. Juška), grammars by M. D. Klein, A. Schleicher, K. Jaunius, Rygiškių Jonas, J. Otrębski (Otrębski), and other authors; Lithuanian-language dictionaries; studies of the Lithuanian language by K. Būga, J. Jablonskis, S. Daukantas, E. Fraenkel, E. Hermann, Z. Zinkevičius, and other linguists; and various Lithuanian publications.

⁶Since, by the time the monograph discussed here was published, A. Uozuols’s book “Latviešu tautasdziesmu valoda” (The Language of Latvian Folk Songs. Riga, 1961) had been the most thorough systematic study of the lexis and grammar (especially syntax) of Latvian folk songs, it is understandable that A. Gateris drew extensively on the aforementioned work by A. Uozuols and on other works by this scholar of Latvian folk songs, which in turn also refer to A. Gateris’s research.

223

doctoral dissertations. In addition, the authority to appoint doctoral dissertation defense committees now belongs not only to the University of Latvia, but also to Daugavpils Pedagogical University and Liepāja Pedagogical Higher School. This should encourage an increase in the number of young scholars in Daugavpils and Liepāja. To date, one doctoral dissertation in linguistics in the field of philology has been defended at each of the two higher education institutions mentioned.

On May 24, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor was awarded for a body of work on the topic “Aizgūtā frazeoloģija latviešu valodā” (“Borrowed phraseology in the Latvian language”) to Andrejus Veisbergas (Veisbergs), associate professor in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the University of Latvia. Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Blinkena, Prof. Dr. B. Kangere, Dr. M. Djačkovas.

Thirty-one publications were submitted for the defense (including 8 books and textbooks), many of them devoted to problems of borrowed Latvian vocabulary. These publications demonstrate the breadth, originality, and theoretical depth of the author’s approach. Four thousand Latvian idioms were examined, of which 1,560 were recognized as borrowings. A. Veisbergas demonstrates the dynamism of the Latvian language, notes the internationalization of idioms, analyzes their motives and processes of borrowing, and classifies idioms in terms of etymology and stylistic usage.

The reviewers positively assessed A. Veisbergas’s broad erudition—his knowledge of the cultures and histories of numerous peoples and of many of the world’s languages.

It should be added that A. Veisbergas is the youngest habilitated doctor among Latvian linguists.

On May 24, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor was awarded for a body of work on the topic “Dažu latviešu valodas vēstures problēmu risinājums” (“The solution of some problems in the history of the Latvian language”) to the distinguished Latvian linguist Konstantinas Karulis. Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. M. Rudzytė (Rudzīte), Prof. Dr. W. Schmidt, Habil. Dr. S. Karaliūnas.

The body of work submitted for habilitation comprises 47 publications in three areas of language history: 1) analysis and commentary on the language of old Latvian writings (articles on early texts, as well as prefaces and commentaries for five books); 2) studies of the history of individual Latvian words (articles on the use of individual words in early writings and on changes in their forms and meanings); 3) etymological studies (“Latviešu etimoloģijas vārdnīca”. Rīga, 1992. Vols. 1–2; several articles on the origins of certain Latvian place names and Yotvingian words). The most important of K. Karulis’s works, not only in Latvian linguistics but also in Baltic studies, is “Latvian Etymological Dictionary.” It is the first etymological dictionary to synthesize everything accomplished in this field by the many researchers of Latvian vocabulary. The reviewers, noting that the dictionary contains a great many supplemented or entirely new etymologies, carefully analyzed some of them and critically examined explanations they considered less well substantiated. It can be expected that this etymological dictionary will encourage further research into the origins of Latvian words.

On June 21, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor was awarded for a body of work on the topic “Dienvidlatgales izloksņu leksika” (“The vocabulary of the dialects of Southern Latgale”) to Antonina Rekena (Reķēna), associate professor at Liepāja Pedagogical Higher School. Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Prof. Habil. Dr. V. Rūke–Dravina (Rūķe–Dravina), Habil. Dr. A. Sabaliauskas.

In A. Rekenos’s research, questions of dialect vocabulary are examined in the context of languages con-

224

in terms of aspects. For the first time in Latvian linguistics, abundant material from the dialects of southern Latgale was analyzed in several thematic groups (crafts, agriculture, farming, kinship, names of foods). The author identified four lines of research: 1) the lexical connections between the dialects of southern Latgale and the languages of neighboring peoples (the 1975 monograph Amatniecības leksika dažās Latgales dienvidu izloksnēs un tās sakari ar atbilstošajiem nuosaukumiem slāvu valodās. — (The vocabulary of crafts in several southern Latgale dialects and its connections with the corresponding names in Slavic languages") and several publications examining inherited and borrowed vocabulary in various thematic groups, prefixed verbs with da- and the function word da, and southern Latgale place names); 2) parallels between the inherited vocabulary of the southern Latgale dialects and Lithuanian (the aforementioned monograph and other publications examining shared inherited linguistic features preserved in Latgalian dialects, common borrowings in both languages, and borrowings from Lithuanian); 3) a complete three-volume dictionary (90 author's sheets) of the Kalupė dialect (submitted to the Latgale Cultural Center publishing house); 4) the use of dialect features in fiction (several publications on dialect forms occurring in the translation of Goethe’s “Faust”).

The reviewers also gave highly positive evaluations of A. Rekena’s work in dialectology and language-contact research more broadly, as well as of her long and productive career in teaching.

On September 21, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor was awarded to Elga Kagaine, senior research associate at the Institute of the Latvian Language, for her 1992 monograph published in Riga, “Semantiskie dialektismi Ziemeļrietumvidzemes izloksnēs” (“Semantic dialectisms in the dialects of northwestern Vidzeme”). Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. habil. M. Rudzytė, Prof. Dr. habil. A. Rekena, Prof. Dr. habil. A. Blinkena; written assessments were received from V. Vitkauskas (Institute of the Lithuanian Language), Z. Zinkevičius (Vilnius University), and L. Vaba (Institute of the Estonian Language).

Against the background of standard Latvian, the monograph examines the semantics of the dialects of northwestern Vidzeme (the material was collected from 21 dialects) and seeks to identify the processes and causes behind the emergence of semantic differences in dialects, as well as their place in the general system of lexical semantics, in the context of various linguistic and extralinguistic factors. The work also highlights trends in semantic development and draws attention to typological parallels and semantic borrowings. In this respect, particular attention is paid to semantic parallels that may have arisen under the influence of the Baltic Finnic languages (the geographical position of the area under study is precisely what gives rise to the influence of these languages). Three groups of semantic parallels are analyzed in greater detail: 1) semantic-grammatical parallels (especially the use of verb + adverb constructions); 2) semantic parallels associated with the specific meanings of the locative forms of the words head, leg, hand, and back; 3) semantic parallels involving the specific meanings of individual words (e.g., the verb likt).

This monograph was recognized as a highly significant and valuable contribution to Latvian linguistics, particularly to the relatively little-studied field of semantics.

On October 12, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor, for the body of work on the topic “Latviešu terminoloģijas izstrādes principi” (“Principles for developing Latvian terminology”), was awarded to Valentīnia Skujiņa (Skujiņa), head of the Terminology Department at the Institute of the Latvian Language. Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. habil. A. Blinkena, Dr. habil. K. Karulis, Prof. Dr. habil. J. Rozenbergs.

225

V. Skujiņa worked in the field of Latvian terminology for 30 years and wrote 20 articles and a monograph devoted to questions of terminology theory and practice, “Latviešu terminoloģijas izstrādes principi.” These works set out the theoretical foundations of Latvian terminology, refine the general concept of a term, clarify its specific nature, characteristic features, and place in the lexical system. Drawing on abundant material and conclusions reached through its analysis, they describe intra-, inter-, and extralinguistic and other principles of terminological work and identify the more productive models for forming Latvian terms. Attention is drawn to the highly topical issue of national and international borrowings: establishing strict criteria for borrowing terms and selecting Latvian names to replace unnecessary loanwords. V. Skujiņa’s work is therefore especially relevant to the practical use of Latvian, while her monograph allows terminology to be viewed as an independent field of Latvian scholarship.

On November 2, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor, for the body of work on the topic “Romānų cilmes aizguvumi latviešu valodā” (“Loanwords of Romance origin in Latvian”), was awarded to Andrejui Bankavui, associate professor in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the University of Latvia. Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. habil. A. Blinkena, Prof. Dr. habil. J. Rozenbergs, Prof. Dr. habil. A. Veisbergs.

The body of work submitted for the defense comprises more than 30 scholarly articles on a topic whose importance in Latvian linguistics had not previously been well understood. A. Bankavs’s research, based on abundant material, shows that a large number of loanwords (about 3,000) in Latvian come from Romance languages. In addition, the author’s publications distinguish between direct and indirect borrowings, that is, they indicate which loanwords came directly from Romance languages and which came through other (intermediary) languages. A historical periodization of the borrowing of Romance words is also provided, distinguishing three stages in their entry into Latvian. Attention is also paid to thematic groups of loanwords and the semantic relations of these words: their meanings in Latvian and in the languages from which they were borrowed. The reviewers emphasized the innovative character and importance of A. Bankavs’s work in filling a major gap in Latvian linguistics. They expressed the hope that the results of this research would be summarized in a monograph or a dictionary of loanwords, so that they would be more readily accessible and usable in the work of other researchers.

On December 14, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor, for the body of work on the topic “Latviešu jūras zvejas leksikas analīze (reljefs, jūra, flora, fauna)” (“An analysis of Latvian maritime fishing vocabulary (terrain, sea, flora, fauna)”), was awarded to Benita Laumanė, senior researcher at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art. Official reviewers: Prof. Dr. habil. M. Rudzytė, Prof. Dr. habil. A. Rekena, Dr. habil. A. Sabaliauskas.

The habilitand’s scholarly interests are chiefly connected with areal linguistics and the study of fishing vocabulary. The body of work submitted for the defense comprises the 1987 monograph published in Riga, “Zvejvietu nosaukumi Latvijas PSR piekrastē” (“Names of fishing places on the coast of the Latvian SSR”), and a number of published articles examining terms for coastal landforms and names of marine flora and fauna. Both the monograph and the articles are based on abundant factual material collected by the author since the 1960s. The publications examine the lexical material comprehensively, seeking to establish the history, origin, and distribution of various terms and names in Latvian dialects, as well as their usage

226

in written sources; the structure and semantics of the names are analyzed, and the methods by which they are formed are explained.

In addition, B. Laumanė has written and submitted for publication an 18-author’s-sheet monograph, ”Žemė, jūra, žvejetas” (”Land, Sea, Fishing Grounds”).

On December 14, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor was awarded for the monograph ”Valodas kultūra teorētiskā skatījumā” (”Language Culture from a Theoretical Perspective”) to Inta Freimane, associate professor in the Faculty of Philology at the University of Latvia. Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Blinkena, Habil. Dr. V. Skujimia.

Drawing on a very extensive body of linguistic material (about 150,000 items) and the findings of other language researchers (especially Russian and Czech linguists), I. Freimane developed her own conception of language culture and the literary norm. The author set out the following objectives for the work: 1) to establish a theoretical foundation for language; 2) to collect linguistic material; 3) to select and describe methods and tools of analysis. In accordance with these objectives, the author also structured the monograph into chapters: 1) ”Language Culture as a Field of Study” (examining the most important functions of language); 2) ”Principal Questions in the Theory of Language Culture” (language is examined as a structurally functional system); 3) ”Functional Violations of the Norms of the Latvian Literary Language from a Theoretical Perspective” (in this longest chapter, language errors at a wide variety of levels are analyzed and classified in detail, and the adaptation of international words in Latvian is discussed); 4) ”The Functional Use of Linguistic Means”.

Although the reviewers emphasized that some theoretical questions concerning language could be debated (e.g., definitions of the concept of language culture, the interpretation of specific examples, or their inclusion in a particular subgroup of the language system, among other matters), the monograph was recognized as a significant work not only for the theory of the Latvian literary language but also for language practice. The author was advised to prepare a practical guide to language culture based on the material in the monograph’s third chapter.

On November 30, 1993, the degree of habilitated doctor was awarded for the monograph ”Nycas izloksne” (”The Nyca Dialect”), published in Riga in 1989, to Brigita Bušmane, senior research associate at the Institute of the Latvian Language. Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Blinkena, Prof. Habil. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Habil. Dr. E. Kagainė.

This monograph is one of the more comprehensive descriptions of Latvian dialects prepared in recent decades. Based on a comparison of spoken language and folk songs, it examines phonetic and morphological features of the Nyca dialect that differ from standard Latvian and are not widespread in other dialects. The lexical and semantic dialectisms in folk songs recorded in Nyca are described in detail. In discussing the more characteristic phonetic and morphological features, the author identifies which features recorded in the songs are no longer found in spoken language. The dialect forms in the folk songs are supplemented with material recorded in the dialect over recent decades and are partly characterized in terms of their origin.

For the monograph, the author was awarded the J. Endzelīns Prize and the A. Abelle Memorial Prize in 1990.

On January 20, 1994, at Vilnius University, the habilitated doctoral dissertation ”Latviešu augšzemnieku izloksņu zilbes prosodija: Eksperimentāls pētījums”

227

The dissertation (“The syllable prosody of the Latvian High Latvian dialects: An experimental study”) was defended by Dace Markus, head of the Department of Latvian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Education of the University of Latvia. Official opponents: Habil. Dr. E. Kagaine, Habil. Dr. S. Karaliūnas; written reviews were provided by the Department of Baltic Languages of the Faculty of Philology of the University of Latvia (Prof. Habil. Dr. M. Rudzīte, lecturer J. Kuškis) and the Institute of Latvian Language (Dr. J. Valdmanis).

The dissertation examined 18 dialects using an experimental method (16 of them according to a comprehensive syllable-prosody testing program). Most of the work was carried out at the Laboratory of Experimental Phonetics and the Computing Centre of Vilnius University, using computer programs developed by Prof. A. Girdenis. For the first time in Latvian linguistics, syllable intonations in the dialects of a single dialect were analyzed systematically from a phonological perspective; their variants and changes were identified; and conclusions regarding the dominant differential features in the accent systems of Selonic and non-Selonic dialects, phonological oppositions, accent models, and phoneme neutralization were tested experimentally. Thus, D. Markus’s description of the prosodic system of the Selonic and non-Selonic dialects of the High Latvian dialect is experimentally verified (the work is supplemented by 137 oscillograms and spectrograms), mathematically proven, and linguistically substantiated.

The reviewers emphasized the significance of D. Markus’s findings for Latvian phonology, their importance for the renewal and development of Latvian experimental phonetics and phonology, and for the further development of Latvian dialectology.

On September 20, 1994, Ojaras Bušas (Bušs), senior researcher at the Institute of Latvian Language, was awarded the degree of habilitated doctor for his body of work, “Latviešu valodas leksikas cilme, vēsture un mūsdienu lietojums” (“The origin, history, and contemporary use of Latvian vocabulary”). Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. J. Rozenbergs, Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Veisbergs, Habil. Dr. E. Kagaine.

The submission for the defense comprised a collection of 50 scholarly articles published after 1980. The author grouped his works into five sections: 1) issues in the theory of lexicology (concerning codified, standard and colloquial language and dialect norms; so-called lexical internationalisms; the semantics of the meanings and forms of proper nouns, etc.); 2) several aspects of the history of the Latvian appellative lexicon (concerning borrowings from Germanic and Curonian languages, parallels in the semantic structures of words in Baltic and Baltic Finnic languages, etc.); 3) features of the origin of Latvian toponyms (concerning Curonian and certain other hydronyms, e.g.,

He recognized problems in the synchronic study of Latvian as one of the more characteristic features of O. Bušs’s scholarly work. At the same time, it was suggested that he devote more attention to a single research direction, so that in the future there might be both a further volume on Latvian place names and a new monograph on the Curonians.

On June 18, 1993, Dzintra Šulcė defended her doctoral dissertation “Nomenu sakņu fonotaktiskā struktūra mūsdienu latviešu valodā (salīdzinājumā ar mūsdienu lietuviešu valodu)” (“The phonotactic structure of noun roots in contemporary Latvian (compared with contemporary Lithuanian)”). She is head of the Department of Latvian Language and Literature at Liepāja Pedagogical Higher School.

Dissertation supervisors: Habil. Dr. L. Ceplytis (Ceplitis), Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Girdenis; official opponents: Habil. Dr. A. Sabaliauskas, Assoc. Prof. Dr. D. Markus.

The dissertation examined the root morphemes of simple nouns from a phonotactic perspective, determining their phonotactic structure and the sequences of phonemes in these roots; analyzing consonant phoneme sequences in different positions (at the beginning, middle, and end of the root); and investigating vowel-consonant combinations and their frequency in roots (roots with one vowel were treated separately in Chapter I; those with two vowels in Chapter II). The productivity of root phonotactic structures was also established, and the phonotactic structures of nouns in Latvian and Lithuanian were compared (drawing on V. Karosienė’s dissertation “The phonotactic structure of noun roots in contemporary Lithuanian”). The conclusion is that the phonotactic structures of both languages are close to the Indo-European model, and their main structural types coincide completely. The reviewers emphasized the dissertation’s novelty and great significance not only for Latvian linguistics (especially for laying the theoretical and empirical foundations of the morphonological system), but also for Baltic studies and Indo-European studies. In addition, this work can be used in language teaching and speech therapy (the dissertation’s appendix also contains a phonotactic analysis of the Latvian “Alphabet”). The candidate’s diligence and independence were also highlighted, and a wish was expressed that the work be continued by examining data from other parts of speech and other languages.

On September 21, 1993, Lidija Leikuma, a lecturer in the Department of Baltic Languages at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Latvia, defended her doctoral dissertation “Darbības vārds Krāslavas, Aulejas, Skaistas un Izvaltas izloksnē” (“The verb in the dialects of Krāslava, Auleja, Skaista, and Izvalta”). Dissertation supervisor: Prof. Habil. Dr. M. Rudzīte; official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Rēkena, Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Breidakass, Dr. A. Stafecka.

This dissertation is the first study devoted specifically to the verb in Latvian dialects. As the author notes, the verbal system of the four southern Latgalian dialects examined is interesting because archaic forms and innovations are interwoven, and because some forms are very rare. The verb and its system of forms were examined in comparison with standard Latvian, other dialects, Lithuanian, and Slavic languages (two chapters are devoted to these questions: II. Finite forms; III. Non-finite forms). The work also clarifies the role of various extralinguistic factors in the formation of the dialects under study (discussed in the first chapter), and shows the causes and tendencies behind the variability or stability of the verbal system. The dissertation is supplemented by a list of verbs, their forms and meanings, as well as tables and maps, in which

229

The distribution of the forms discussed across the dialects examined is shown.

On October 12, 1993, the doctoral degree for a body of work on the topic “Galvenās leksikogrāfijas problēmas” (“The Main Problems of Lexicography”) was awarded to Jānis Raškevičius (Raškevičs), associate professor at the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the University of Latvia. The official reviewers were Prof. habil. Dr. V. Agamdzanova, Dr. M. Stengrevica, and Dr. J. Sylis (Silis).

As the reviewers noted, J. Raškevičs works very productively in practical lexicography: he is one of the authors of the Latvian–English and English–Latvian dictionaries published several times, one of the authors of “Angļu—latviešu frazeoloģiskā vārdnīca” (“English–Latvian Phraseological Dictionary”), published in 1993, and the compiler of the two-edition “Latviešu—angļu sarunvārdnīca” (“Latvian–English Phrasebook”) and “Dictionary of verb—adverb nouns” (Dictionary of Verbal and Adverbial Nouns: Rīga, 1971).

J. Raškevičs has also published articles devoted to problems of lexicography.

On November 2, 1993, the doctoral dissertation “Baltijas jūras somu geografiskie apelatīvi un to relikti Latvijas vietvārdos” (“Finnish Geographical Appellatives of the Baltic Sea Region and Their Relicts in Latvian Place Names”) was defended by Kersti Boiko, research associate at the Institute of Latvian Language. Official reviewers: Prof. habil. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Dr. L. Vaba, and Dr. O. Bušas.

The dissertation examines Latvian place names containing geographical appellatives of Baltic Finnic origin and their relics. Geographical appellatives can often indicate a national minority substrate (less often, loanwords) and may be understood as untranslatable words with no equivalent. Since geographical appellatives are very frequently used in the formation of place names, the toponyms examined constitute a significant proportion of all Baltic Finnic place names in Latvia. As the reviewers pointed out, the aims of the work—to propose new etymologies for place names and systematize existing ones, and to identify the distribution areas of Baltic Finnic geographical appellatives and the areal connections between Latvian place names and Estonian dialects—were not merely achieved but even surpassed, since the candidate also provides substantial refinements concerning the territories inhabited by Estonians and Livonians and possible migrations. It should also be noted that this dissertation was the first study devoted exclusively to Finno-Ugric languages to be defended in Riga. It was therefore proposed that the author also be awarded a doctorate in Finno-Ugric studies.

On November 30, 1993, the doctoral dissertation “Galvas un plecu segu nosaukumi latviešu valodas izlokšņēs” (“Names for Head and Shoulder Coverings in Latvian Dialects”) was defended by Ilga Jansone, research associate at the Institute of Latvian Language. Official reviewers: Prof. habil. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Habil. Dr. E. Kagaine, and Dr. B. Reidzāne; a written review was also received from Habil. Dr. A. Alsupes, Doctor of Historical Sciences.

The work is devoted to one thematic group of vocabulary in Latvian dialects—the names for unwoven head and shoulder coverings. The dissertation draws on both linguistic (dialectal) and ethnographic material (an ethnographic description of the items under study is given in the first chapter of the dissertation). The aim of the work is: 1) to provide a detailed account of the names of the items examined in Latvian dialects (Chapter II); 2) to clarify the main principles of the semantic motivation of these names (Chapter III, in which the names are analyzed in detail

230

methods of formation and features of motivation); 3) to provide possible etymologies. At the end of the work, 7 maps are provided showing the distribution of the names examined across the dialects.

All the dissertation reviewers acknowledged that the author had achieved the goals she had set. In the doctoral candidate’s own view, to obtain a complete picture of the names for head and shoulder coverings in Latvian dialects, a comprehensive study of the names for yarn head coverings is also needed.

On December 21, 1993, Agris Timuška, a research associate at the Institute of the Latvian Language, defended the doctoral dissertation “Žiemelvidzemes izlokšņu salīdzinājumi un to leksikogrāfiskā interpretācija” (“Comparisons of North Vidzeme Dialects and Their Lexicographic Interpretation”). Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. M. Rudzytė, Habil. Dr. E. Kagaine, and Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Blinkena; a written review was received from the Institute of the Lithuanian Language (K. Morkūnas).

The dissertation examined one type of dialect dictionary—the aseptic dictionary, which lexicographically represents a particular linguistic phenomenon. The dissertation is based on a dictionary prepared by the author together with philologist M. Putninia (Putniņa), approximately 20 printer’s sheets in length, and submitted to the “Zinātne” publishing house in 1991: “Sinoles izlokšnes salīdzinājumu vārdnīca” (“Dictionary of Comparisons in the Sinole Dialect”). This is the first dictionary of this type in Latvian dialect lexicography. M. Putninia compiled the dialect dictionary material, while the doctoral candidate’s work involved establishing the principles of the dictionary’s structure, lexicographic processing of the material, and semantic analysis. These issues are also discussed in the dissertation. Its introduction provides concise information about earlier studies of comparisons (for example, K. B. Vosylyte’s “Dictionary of Comparisons in the Lithuanian Language” was also used in preparing the aforementioned dictionary). In the first analytical part of the dissertation, dialect comparisons are characterized by contrasting them with their standard-language equivalents and examining their themes and semantics; the second part presents the introduction to the dictionary of comparisons and 313 headwords (dictionary entries) beginning with the letters a, b, and ž.

The reviews praised the dictionary’s innovative character, emphasized its relevance, the doctoral candidate’s thorough engagement with lexicographic work, and her ability to explain the meanings of words and comparisons. They expressed the hope that the dictionary would be published soon and that its author would continue the study of dialect comparisons she had begun, also turning her attention to other types of comparisons not examined in this dissertation.

On December 21, 1993, Sarmytė Lagzdinia (Sarmīte Lagzdiņa), a research associate at the Institute of the Latvian Language, defended the doctoral dissertation “Funkcionālie verbi veclatviešu rakstu valodā” (“Functional Verbs in the Language of Old Latvian Written Texts”). Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Blinkena, Habil. Dr. K. Karulis, and Prof. Habil. Dr. J. Rozenbergas; written reviews were received from Habil. Dr. A. Bankavas (University of Latvia) and A. Paulauskienė and J. Balkevičius (Vilnius University).

The term functional verbs (FV) refers here to verbs in a verb + noun analytical construction that expresses a single verbal concept and constitutes an analytical predicate in the syntactic structure of a sentence. The aim of the work is to identify certain verbal constructions of the aforementioned structure in old Latvian written sources that form, or can form, an analytical predicate, and to clarify and describe their features. In the original text, the sentence continues in the next block.

231

that can form an analytical predicate, and to clarify and describe their features. Accordingly, drawing on the theoretical conception and classification system for FV groups accepted in German linguistics, the doctoral candidate developed a precise method of description. The FVs were analyzed in three groups according to their semantic nature, corresponding to the dissertation’s three chapters: 1) durative; 2) transformative; and 3) causative FVs. The work discusses models of FV groups formed in old Latvian written texts by a particular functional-semantic variant; it provides syntactic and semantic descriptions of these models and their components, identifies the morphosyntactic realizations and semantic functions of sentence-model components, and clarifies semantic restrictions on the selection of the predicative noun, among other matters.

The reviewers emphasized the significance and relevance of this work for Latvian linguistics, since syntax—especially historical syntax—has so far been studied less than other areas of language.

On December 29, 1993, Albertas Sarkani, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Lithuania, defended the doctoral dissertation “Latviešu valodas Augšzemes sēlisko izloksņu prosodija un vokālisms: Eksperimentālie pētījumi” (“Prosody and Vocalism in the Selonian Dialects of Augšzeme in the Latvian Language: Experimental Studies”) at Vilnius University. The dissertation supervisor was Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Girdenis; the official opponents were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ž. Markevičienė and Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Breidakas. Written reviews were received from the Departments of Baltic Languages at the Faculty of Philology and of Latvian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Education of the University of Latvia.

The dissertation experimentally investigated the vocalism of Selonian dialects, which had not previously been studied, and conducted a psychophysical analysis for the first time. It focuses more extensively on prosodic phenomena, analyzing vowel and diphthong duration, intensity, and fundamental frequency. It reaches the novel and interesting conclusion that the pitch accents are of a musical type. This claim warrants further investigation, as it may represent a highly archaic feature. During the dissertation defense, the need for a comprehensive study of prosodemes and tonemes in Baltic languages (Latvian and Lithuanian), based on shared Baltic words, was raised, along with the broader need for cooperation among Baltic philologists.

On June 21, 1994, Vilma Šaudinia (Šaudiņa), a lecturer in the Department of Latvian at Daugavpils Pedagogical University, defended the doctoral dissertation “Lituānismi dažās Lietuvas pierobežas sēliskajās izloksnēs (Akniste, Gārsene, Laši, Prode)” (“Lithuanianisms in Several Selonian Dialects Along the Lithuanian Border (Aknystė, Garsenė, Lašiai, Pruodė)”). Official reviewers: Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Breidakas, Habil. Dr. B. Laumane, and Dr. L. Baluode (Balode).

In Latvian linguistics, this dissertation is the first work of this scope to examine Lithuanianisms in a particular area. The doctoral candidate focuses primarily on characterizing Lithuanianisms in the aforementioned dialects, their adaptation (Chapter III), dating them, and their thematic variety (Chapter IV). The dissertation also describes the linguistic situation in the dialects examined (Chapter I, which also includes a thorough analysis of the manuscript of J. Kulitan’s “Dictionary of the Garsene Dialect”), discusses the criteria for identifying Lithuanianisms, and clarifies the reasons for their borrowing (Chapter II). The appendix to the dissertation consists of a dictionary of Lithuanianisms which, unfortunately, includes only Lithuanianisms characteristic of the dialects examined (it does not include

232

Lithuanianisms used in the standard Latvian language, e.g., gėmis, paģiras, although the latter, too, are mentioned quite often in the dissertation). In the reviewers’ opinion, it would have been better to include all Lithuanianisms in the dictionary, since the doctoral candidate herself acknowledges that no comprehensive study of these borrowings has yet been undertaken in Latvian linguistics. In addition, the doctoral candidate provides etymologies for the Lithuanianisms examined in the dictionary, more than a quarter of which she has elucidated herself. Both the author and the reviewers emphasized the practical significance of the dissertation: the material collected using the questions in the questionnaire devised by the doctoral candidate can be used both in compiling dictionaries of Latvian dialects and in seminars on dialect vocabulary and language contact (this is already being done at Daugavpils Pedagogical University), as well as elsewhere.

On June 20, 1995, Vilma Kalmė, a lecturer at Liepāja Pedagogical Higher School, defended her doctoral dissertation “Vingrošanas termini latviešu valodā” (Gymnastics Terms in Latvian). The official reviewers of the dissertation were habil. dr. V. Skujinia, doc. dr. G. Smilt-niece, and prof. habil. dr. J. Rozenbergas.

The dissertation examined the vocabulary of one sport—gymnastics—analyzed changes in the terminology of this field from the 1860s to the present, and offered specific recommendations for improving Latvian gymnastics terminology. The specific nature of V. Kalmė’s research is determined by the particular character of the chosen subject area—gymnastics: here, not only terms but also entire syntactic constructions are used as terminological units. This broadens the scope of the very designation term. Unfortunately, as the reviewers noted, it is not always clear on what criteria certain sports teams are considered team terms, or constructions describing the performance of particular elements (i.e., descriptions of those elements) are considered terms consisting of phrases or terms consisting of sentences. Nevertheless, despite these ambiguities, the reviewers recognized the dissertation’s considerable and distinctive significance not only for sports terminology but also for the development of Latvian terminological science as a whole.

Evija LIPARTĖ

IN MEMORIAM VALIJA DAMBĖ (1912–1995)

On October 15, 1995, the eminent Latvian linguist Valija Dambė (Vallija Dambe) died in Riga and completed her earthly journey in this city’s Meža Cemetery. V. Dambė was one of the few Latvian linguists who connected contemporary Latvian linguistics with the prewar University of Latvia and the finest traditions of this center of Latvian culture.

V. Dambė was born on May 26, 1912, in Riga. In 1941, she graduated from the Department of Classical Philology at the University of Latvia. Alongside classical philology, she also attended lectures in Baltic philology at the university.

From 1946, V. Dambė worked at the Institute of Language and Literature of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. In 1963, she was awarded the degree of Candidate of Philological Sciences for her research on Latvian toponymy, without having to submit a separate dissertation.

Among her studies, one particularly worthy of mention is “Blydienės vietovardžiai kaip

233