Project Title: Latvian Language

Project No.: VPP-IZM-2018/2-0002

Project Implementation Period: 29.11.2018 – 28.11.2019

Project funding: EUR 3 008 915, for VUAS: EUR 75 510

The overarching goal of the program is to strengthen the sustainability, linguistic quality and competitiveness of the Latvian language - the core element of Latvian identity and state values- in Latvia and in the context of world languages.

In accordance with the overarching goal of the programme, the project's objective, and the defined tasks, research will be carried out in the fields of language ontology, sociolinguistics (including language situation monitoring), Latvian grammar, lexicology and lexicography (in collaboration with IT specialists), the study of Latvian place names and personal names, Latvian terminology, Latgalian studies, and the lexicon and grammar of the Livonian language. The aim is to expand the knowledge base in linguistics and related disciplines regarding the study and development of the Latvian and Livonian languages.

Electronic language resources will be developed and tested (Latvian language dictionaries, a Livonian language database, and a Latgalian written language spelling tool) to enhance the accessibility of Latvian and Livonian language resources online.

By applying the principles of OPEN SCIENCE and OPEN DATA, the project will ensure public access to the necessary research results via the internet and in public libraries in Latvia and Europe.

Through extensive research based on interviews, surveys, and direct interaction with language learners, the project will provide proposals to responsible ministries, educational institutions, teachers, and parents on optimizing the acquisition of Latvian as a second and foreign language.

The results of the project will be published in 14 books, 9 dictionaries (including 6 electronic dictionaries), and 39 articles indexed in SCOPUS and WoS databases. An International Congress of Balticists (2020) and other conferences will be organized. Wide-ranging project outreach activities are also planned.

Institutions involved in the project:

• University of Latvia (including the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science)
  
• University of Liepāja
  
• University of Daugavpils
  
• Riga Technical University
  
• Rēzekne Technological Academy
  
• Ventspils University College
  
• Latvian Language Agency.