December 25, 2008
A book for foreign audiences that tells the story of Latvian language policy has been released by the State Language Commission in Rīga.
The 400-page English-language book, Break–out of Latvian, is described as the first broad and important study of the status of Latvian in Latvia, a spokesperson for President Valdis Zatlers said in a Dec. 22 press release. The language commission, formed in 2002, reports to the president.
“Every book that shows how close and dear the Latvian language is for us is a success,” Zatlers said during presentation of the new title, according to the press release. “We have to tell that to the world.”
The book is based on a sociolinguistic study and describes the development of the Latvian language during the nation’s years of independence.
Break–out of Latvian is published by the academic publisher Zinātne.
Andris Straumanis is editor of Latvians Online.
