DZINTRA ŠULCE

University of Liepāja, Latvia

1. The greatest difficulties are associated with preserving vowel quality. There are two types of deviations from the norm: a) a long vowel is pronounced instead of a short one, e.g.: Latvian kino, radio, albums, atoms, automobilis, šampanietis, radiator s, mobilis, mediji, stabilis; a long vowel is pronounced incorrectly and written instead of a short one; b) a short vowel is pronounced instead of a long one, e.g.: Latvian pozicija, bibliotēka, drāma, mūzika, flomāsters, garāža, depozīts; a short vowel is pronounced incorrectly and written instead of the corresponding long vowel.

2. Vowel quality is confused: Latvian filalogija (= filologija), acitons (= acetons), fraziologija (= frazeologija), sandeles (= sandales), komendants (= komandants), alkahols (= alkohols), trenēžieris (= trenažieris).

3. Vowels are omitted: Latvian orgināls (= oriģināls), adminstrācija (= administrācija), kombinzons (= kombinezons).

4. Consonants are confused, e.g.: z is pronounced instead of c: licenze (= licence); z is pronounced instead of s: zolīdi (= solīdi), penzija (= pensija); c is used instead of s: finances (= finanses); the hard consonant l is pronounced as the soft ļ: šašļiks (= šašliks); p is pronounced instead of b: apsolvents (= absolvents), apsurds (= absurds); g is used instead of h: begemots (= behemots).

5. The quantity of sonants in pronunciation should be taken into account: sam mits (= samits), num-murs (= numurs).

6. The word endings -s and -ss are confused: komiks (= komikss).

7. The meanings of similarly spelled international words are confused, e.g.: Latvian efektivus and efektīgs, interesenti and interesanti, kompetenti and komponenti.

8. The difficulties identified in practice are related to compliance with the latest decisions of the Latvian Language Experts Commission of the State Language Centre (VVC LVEK), as these decisions are not publicized sufficiently.

9. Problems also arise because variants emerge when international words are adapted, e.g.: Islande and Īslande, islandieši and īslandieši (since June 2011, the LVEK decision has treated them as parallel variants).

The causes of problems in the adaptation and use of individual international words should be sought in the history of the language. Among the émigré community (those who left Latvia during World War II), a different tradition of adapting and spelling international words developed. These differences are largely due to several language reforms implemented in Latvia (in 1946 and 1957; these issues were also partly regulated by decisions in 1967 and 1968), which also concerned the spelling of international words (Strautiņa, Šulce 2009: 76–78).

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Nevertheless, language practice shows that most incorrectly used international words arise from carelessness and superficiality, since their spelling has remained unchanged for many decades, e.g.: Latvian šampanietis, flomāsters, ananāss, balzams, kēkss, krēms, kombinezons, alkoholiskie dzērieni, vinegrets, sandales, šašliks, albums, kino, radio, ekskavators, Venera (Svešvārdu vārdnīca 1999, 2005, 2008; LVPPV 1995).

A large proportion of international words used in Latvian are indeclinable; from this one can conclude that they were not adapted when they entered Latvian, e.g.: Latvian kino, radio, kakao, rokoko, komūnikē, kapučīno, kivi, ampluā, ragū, auto, loto, moto, kakadu. Lithuanians have dealt more successfully with most international words and fully adapted them to the grammatical system of Lithuanian, e.g.: Lithuanian kìnas, kakavà, rā̊dijas, rokòkas, komunikãtas, kapučìnas, sùšis, eũras.

Although there are similarities too—some international words have also remained indeclinable in Lithuanian, e.g.: žabò, tabù, sòlo, fojē, metrò, ateljē.

In language use, the meanings of international words are often confused. It should be noted that difficulties are caused not only by the very newest international words, but also by those that have traditionally been established in the language for more than a few decades. Sometimes one encounters paradoxes, when linguists themselves do not properly understand the meanings of international words used in their scholarly works, e.g.:

In Latvian Par to, ka šī grāmata ir uzrakstīta, pirmkārt jā pateicas visiem tiem filologiem un valodniekiem manā mūžā, kuri gadu gaitā apliecinājuši [...] (Strelēvica-Ošiņa 2011: 11). In Lithuanian For the fact that this book was written, thanks should first of all be given to all the philologists and linguists I have met in my life, who have affirmed over the years [...].

Cf. definitions:

Philology – Latin filologia < Greek philologia – love of the word – the field comprising linguistics, literary studies and folklore, and philologist – Greek philologos – a specialist in philology (Svešvārdu vārdnīca 2008: 256). Thus, the term philology also encompasses the concept of a linguist, or language specialist; consequently, the text presents redundant information. The same explanation is given in other dictionaries of international words (Svešvārdu vārdnīca 1999: 223; Ilustrētā svešvārdu vārdnīca 2005: 227).

The material analyzed shows that international words are used disproportionately often, especially since Latvian has synonyms for them. In everyday practice, international words most often make information

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assimilation, although, undoubtedly, there are fields in which international words are necessary. A given internationalism is understood in various languages, but even in scholarly works one should avoid using too many international words. In readable texts, an idea is sometimes expressed almost entirely, or even entirely, in international words (Petre 2008: 17), for example:

In Latvian: However, in H. M. Encensbergera’s literary episteme, relevant elements of modern poetics organically fit into the overall structure—in our age they release the imagination, thereby giving “empirical values” new capacity and offering broad “labyrinthine” possibilities. [...] For H. M. Encensbergeram, the teaching on the topological nature of modernism means a dialectic of the orientation and disorientation of the paradigm (Kastiņš, Belozjorova 2013: 144). In Lithuanian: However, in H. M. Enzensberger’s literary episteme, relevant elements of modern poetics organically fit into the overall structure—in our age they liberate the imagination, thereby assigning new capacities to “empirical values” and offering broad “labyrinthine” possibilities. [...] For H. M. Enzensberger, the teaching on the topological nature of modernism means a dialectic of the orientation and disorientation of the paradigm.

The study envisaged conducting a survey on the use of contemporary international words. Questionnaires were prepared in Lithuanian and Latvian, but relatively few respondents completed them. The responses processed so far indicate only general tendencies and cannot comprehensively reflect attitudes toward the issues raised (the Latvian-language questionnaire was completed by 47 respondents and the Lithuanian-language one by 29—mostly students and lecturers associated with philology). The author of the study considers it promising to make a targeted comparison of the adaptation and use of international words in Latvian and Lithuanian, as well as to expand the range of questions in the initial questionnaire.

The Latvian-language questionnaire was broader in scope and covered various topics. For example, respondents were asked about the criteria language users rely on to distinguish foreign words from inherited words; whether they pay attention to new developments in the spelling of foreign proper names; which sources they consult for information about difficulties in using foreign words; and were asked to provide specific examples of foreign-word usage and suggestions for better assimilating international words into Latvian.

Respondents from Lithuania were asked whether they pay attention to new developments in the adaptation and spelling of foreign words; which of the presented variants of foreign words they use in everyday life; whether they encounter problems with the use and/or spelling of foreign words; and were also asked about their attitudes toward the use of international words in Lithuanian.

In their responses, respondents most often emphasized that nowadays it is impossible to do without international words, but that more attention should be paid to

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their adaptation, spelling, and usage. Texts should not be burdened with international words when an idea can be expressed using other words, that is, words from one’s native language. Users of both languages suggest not becoming overly enamored of Anglicisms, which have now come into fashion (replacing the Russian and German words that came before them). Nevertheless, Latvian (or Lithuanian) alternatives should not be sought in cases where international words sound better than words in one’s own language and adapting the latter is not easy. Greater attention should be paid to the spelling and correct use of international words in various institutions and media, and the decisions adopted by language commissions on the use of international words should be more widely publicized. Language users do not always keep up with changes in the language, and therefore use the old, familiar variant in everyday speech. International words that have already become established in the language should not be changed.

International words more commonly used in Lithuanian and Latvian are collected in dictionaries of international words, which indicate the language from which they originated, explain their meaning, and describe the specifics of their use in the particular borrowing language. Dictionaries of international words published in Lithuania in recent years include Tarptautinių žodžių žodynas (2001, 2007, 2008), and in Latvia, Svešvārdu vārdnīca (1999, 2005, 2008). Language issues in Lithuania are regularly addressed by the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language, and in Latvia by the Latvian Language Expert Commission of the State Language Centre (online resources are listed in the bibliography and sources).

The latest research and recommendations on the Latvian language can also be found in the collection of articles Valodas prakse: vērojumi un ieteikumi (2005–2013). Some of these also have a supplementary language-advice section, which clearly shows that international words continue to pose difficulties for language users and that greater attention should therefore be paid to them. The study confirmed the important role of the Latvian Language Agency in addressing questions of concern by providing language advice in writing and orally.

The study further confirms that the public should be better informed about new developments in the adaptation and spelling of international words; this would encourage people to spell and use international words correctly in everyday life as well. The material analyzed shows that problems with the adaptation, spelling, and use of international words will always exist (not only in Latvian and Lithuanian), so each word should be examined individually and the most appropriate decision made in each particular case. The topic reviewed is, and will remain, especially relevant in an age of globalization and active migration; therefore, more comprehensive research on international words in Lithuanian and Latvian is needed.

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LITERATŪRA

Ilustrētā svešvārdu vārdnīca 2005: Rīga: Avots.

Kastiņš J., Belozjorova L. 2013: Hansa Magnusa Encsenbergera literārā epistēma. – Aktuālās problēmas literatūras zinātnē. Rakstu krājums 18, Liepāja: LiePA, 139–145.

LVPPV 1995: Latviešu valodas pareizrakstības un pareizrunas vārdnīca, Rīga: Avots.

Laua A. 1981: Latviešu leksikoloģija, Rīga: Zvaigzne.

Petre B. 2008: Vēlreiz par neveiksmēm zinātnisko rakstu valodā. – Valodas prakse: vērojumi un ieteikumi 3, Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 13–19.

Strautiņa V., Šulce Dz. 2009: Latviešu valodas pareizruna un pareizrakstība, Rīga: RaKa.

Strelēvica-Ošiņa D. 2011: Kāpēc mēs gribam, lai valoda ir pareiza: ieskats preskriptīvisma vēsturē, teorijā un praksē, Rīga: LU Latviešu valodas institūts.

Svešvārdu vārdnīca 2008: Rīga: Avots.

Svešvārdu vārdnīca 1999: Rīga: Jumava.

Valodas prakse: vērojumi un ieteikumi 2005–2013: Rīga: Latviešu valodas institūts.

VPSV 2007: Valodniecības pamatterminu skaidrojošā vārdnīca, Rīga: Latviešu valodas institūts.

Latviešu valodas aģentūra, Rīga: Latviešu valodas aģentūra. Pieeja per internetā: <http://www.valoda.lv/> (žūrēta 2013 m. spalio 9 d.).

Latviešu valodas ekspertu komisijas lēmumi, Rīga: Valsts valodas centrs. Pieeja per internetą: <http://www.vvc.gov.lv/advantagecms/LV/komisijas/lemumi.html> (žūrēta 2013 m. spalio 11 d.).

Valsts valodas centra Latviešu valodas ekspertu komisija, Rīga: Valsts valodas centrs. Pieeja per internetą: <http://www.vvc.gov.lv/advantagecms/LV/komisijas/lvek.html> (žūrēta 2013 m. rugsėjo 17 d.).

Valstybinė lietuvių kalbos komisija. Prieiga per internetą: <http://vlkk.lt/> (žiūrėta 2013 m. rugsėjo 12 d.).

Gauta 2013 11 12

Priimta 2013 12 20

TOPICAL ISSUES OF USING FOREIGN WORDS IN THE LATVIAN LANGUAGE

Summary

Nowadays, the term ‘foreign word’ is generally used in the following meaning: a word borrowed from another language and grammatically adapted to the system of the recipient language, the foreign origin of which (according to certain pho-

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netic and/or morphological characteristics) is perceived by the majority of recipient language users. In order to reproduce a foreign word in a different language, it is assimilated on the basis of three principles:

1) phonetic assimilation;

2) morphological assimilation;

3) semantic assimilation – the borrowing keeps the original meaning, but the meaning in the recipient language can change.

The most frequently used foreign words in a language are usually compiled in dictionaries of foreign words indicating the original language, giving explanation of the meaning and the specific features of their usage in the corresponding recipient language. At present, the latest issues of foreign language dictionaries published in Latvia are (1999, 2005, 2008), which give the user an opportunity to check the spelling of foreign words and their meaning. The Terminology Commission and Latvian Language Expert Commission are the bodies that regularly make decisions on reproduction and spelling of foreign words. There are also such dictionaries in the Lithuanian language – Tarptautinių žodžių žodynas (2007, 2008, 2010); they are also available on the Internet, for example, http://www.zodziai.lt/, http://www.tzz.lt/ and others; decisions on the most important foreign word usage issues are taken by the Lithuanian State Language Commission (Valstybinė lietuvių kalbos komisija). Lithuanian linguists (like in Latvia) are worried about the rapid inflow of anglicisms into the language.

In Latvian a large part of foreign words are indeclinable, and hence we can assert that they were once not sufficiently adapted to the Latvian language, for example, kino, radio, kakao, rokoko, komunikē, kapučīno, kiwi, ampluā, ragū, auto, loto, moto, eiro. By contrast, Lithuanians have more successfully managed most of these words and have fully adapted them to the Lithuanian grammar system, for example, kinas, kakava, radijas, rokokas, komunikatas, kapučinas, euras.

The analysed material shows that there will always be difficulties in reproducing foreign words, their spelling and usage (not only in the Latvian language); they should be viewed from various aspects and the most appropriate decisions should be made in any given situation.

KEYWORDS: foreign words, assimilation of foreign words, contemporary problems of the use of foreign words.

DZINTRA ŠULCE

Liepājas Universitāte

Kūrmājas prospekts 13, LV-3401 Liepāja

[email protected]

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