Aiga Veckalne, a guest lecturer and research assistant at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, has created a language podcast called “Pieturzīmes” and social media posts on language–related topics. These activities have gained significant popularity not only among Latvian language experts but also among students and many Latvian speakers. Nearly five thousand people now follow her posts and updates on social media.

The podcast aims to highlight the richness and beauty of the Latvian language, its usage, and its speakers across various fields, emphasizing that language can be refined in an engaging way and applied in any sector.

At first, the podcast may seem like it is just about grammar rules and punctuation, but in fact it features guests from various professions, such as writers, social media creators, journalists, teachers, translators, musicians, foreigners who have learned Latvian, politicians, and others who use the language in their everyday lives. The most frequently discussed topics include translation, linguistics, inclusive language, spelling, language technologies, fluency, writing, and various languages. As a result, even those who are only slightly familiar with punctuation will find something interesting and engaging.

Aiga has been interested in the Latvian language for a long time. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Baltic philology and a master’s degree in business administration (EMBA). For nearly 15 years, Aiga managed the language services company “Skrivanek” in several countries. The idea for the Latvian podcast came to her while working at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. She is currently studying in the doctoral study programme in linguistics at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and working as a research assistant and guest lecturer at the Faculty of Translation Studies. She also runs the company “Pieturzīmes” and translates and edits texts. In addition, there are social media posts on language topics, articles on news portal “Delfi” and other publications, as well as various seminars and workshops on business correspondence, written communication, marketing copywriting, and more. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, as well as getting lost in TV series and books.

Of course, “Pieturzīmes” wouldn’t be the same without its inspiring and amazing guests. The most popular episodes so far include those with a rap musician ansis (episode No. 25), professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Juris Baldunčiks (episode No. 14), linguists Evelīna Zilgalve and Jānis Veckrācis (episode No. 2), comedian Džemma Sudraba (episode No. 18), professor at Liepāja University Linda Lauze (episode No. 23), and others. When asked about the most memorable insights and people she would like to have a conversation with, Aiga mentions Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Jānis Krīvēns (Krivenchy), Sandra Glāzupa, and Jānis Skutelis. One particularly memorable insight comes from Gatis Zamurs, who said: “When you do something publicly, there will always be someone who doesn’t like it, who will criticize, or who will have an opinion about it.” It’s the price that must be paid, and it’s not a high price, because the most important thing is to keep going and not stop.

Aiga encourages everyone who uses the Latvian language daily to practice their language skills just like any other, and to be mindful when speaking – choosing the most accurate and fitting words. She emphasizes avoiding unnecessary influences from other languages and embracing the richness of the Latvian language!

The podcast can be listened to for free on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms.