Russian language in Latvia
The Russian language in Latvia is the second most commonly used language at home (37.2% in the 2011 census[1]) and 26.9% of the population are ethnic Russians.[2]
Contents
History and distribution[edit]
Pre-World War II[edit]
Before WWII the proportion of non-Latvians was approximately 25%, the Russians being the largest minority with 10.6%,[3] amount of Russians increased sharply after Soviet re-occupation in 1944, reaching 34% in 1989 and new, previously unknown groups as Russian speaking Ukrainians (3.5%) were introduced.[4] In 1925 census Russian was reported as family language by 14% of inhabitants. A small percent of Russian speakers were not Russians and conversely a small percentage of Russians used another language in family, which was attributed to mixed marriages, living in area with another majority language and, in case of Russian speakers, Russification policies of Russian empire.[5] In 1930 census Russian was reported as family language by 13% of inhabitants.[6]
Post-World War II[edit]
In 1970 Russian was spoken as the native language by 36% inhabitants, including 6% of total population who were not Russians, and fluently as a second language by 31% of inhabitants.[7] In 1989 Russian was the native language to 42% of population, including 8% of non-Russians, and 39% spoke it fluently as a foreign language.[8] In 2000 Russian was spoken natively by 37.5% of inhabitants and by 43.7% as the second language.[9] In 2011 census 37.2% reported Russian as the language they primarily speak at home.[1] A 2009 research found that overall proficiency of Russian as the second language is decreasing as it is losing its popularity among the youth, especially in areas with very large Latvian majority.[10]
On February 18, 2012, Latvia held a constitutional referendum on whether to adopt Russian as a second official language.[11] According to the Central Election Commission, 74.8% voted against, 24.9% voted for and the voter turnout was 71.1%.[12]
In October 17, 2016 National Electronic Mass Media Council sent a letter to the administration of Latvian Television calling it to provide a translation in the state-language if needed and not to exclude representatives from invited institutions for not speaking Russian after it received a complaint from a state institution whose representative was denied participation in the state-owned LTV7 Russian-language talk show Tochki nad i for wanting to speak in Latvian on the basis that "it's not technically possible to provide a translation during the broadcast, because extra resources would be required."[13] In September 2018 Tochki nad i host Oleg Ignatiev informed National Alliance he would not allow Latvian being spoken by the party's representative on the upcoming show's episode on education in minority languages. National Alliance warned it would file a complaint to the National Electronic Mass Media Council. Soon after Ignatiev resigned saying:[14]
| “ | I understood that they simply want to use this situation. To come to the show and say, look at how patriotic we are as even here we talk Latvian and no one can object...I don't want me and my show to be involved in these cheap political ploys.[14] | ” |
LTV responded by saying that it "could provide an interpreter for people who can't or won't speak Russian" and that "the public broadcaster cannot allow a situation where someone is excluded for wanting to speak the official state language."[14]
Beginning in 2019, instruction in Russian language will be gradually discontinued in private colleges and universities, as well general instruction in public high schools,[15] except for subjects related to culture and history of the Russian minority, such as Russian language and literature classes.[16]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "At home Latvian is spoken by 62% of Latvian population; the majority – in Vidzeme and Lubāna county". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. August 26, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "On key provisional results of Population and Housing Census 2011". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
- ^ "Ethnicities in region of Latvia. Statistics". roots-saknes.lv. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года. Национальный состав населения по республикам СССР" (in Russian). demoscope.ru. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- ^ http://www.csb.gov.lv/sites/default/files/1925_tautas_skaitisana.pdf
- ^ http://www.csb.gov.lv/sites/default/files/1930_tautas_skaitisana.pdf
- ^ http://www.csb.gov.lv/sites/default/files/1970_tautas_skaitisana_lpsr.pdf
- ^ http://www.csb.gov.lv/sites/default/files/1989_tautas_skaitisana.pdf
- ^ Latvijas iedzīvotāju valodu prasme. Latvian State Language Center
- ^ http://www.valoda.lv/downloadDoc_650/mid_509
- ^ "Referendum on the Draft Law 'Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia'". Central Election Commission of Latvia. 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ "Results of the referendum on the Draft Law 'Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia'" (in Latvian). Central Election Commission of Latvia. 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- ^ "National Electronic Mass Media Council calls LTV to resolve the situation with the use of language" (in Latvian). National Electronic Mass Media Council. October 17, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ a b c Zane Mače (September 6, 2018). "Journalist quits following Russian language row". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ "Latvian president promulgates bill banning teaching in Russian at private universities". The Baltic Course. April 7, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ "Government okays transition to Latvian as sole language at schools in 2019". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. January 23, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
External links[edit]
- Russian in Latvia // Euromosaic III pp. 184-188