I have friends and relations in Latvia, and one result of the
recent independence from the old Soviet Union has been the sudden value
of the English language. Under the Soviets Russian was the dominant
language. Latvians had a joke that nationalists, meaning themselves,
spoke two languages (Russian & Latvian) while internationalists, meanings
Russians, spoke one language (Russian). While theoretically the Soviets
honored multi-lingualism, practically Russians expected all nationals
within the Soviet Union to speak Russian. And, so, social and economic
advancement depended upon a Latvian becoming fluent in Russian.
Now, for social and economic advancement, English is becoming a
valued language, since this is the language used in international
business as well as being seen as an informational source. A friend who
learned Russian only and not English has suddenly found herself not
having the same degree of access to information, because the new
information in her field (child psychology) is entering Latvia in English
text.
Other friends who are fluent in English are finding better job
opportunities. Family members with young children are emphasizing
English as the second language to be learned. Those who previously
taught Russian are having a hard time finding a job.
And it also seems that many Latvians are worried about the influx
of English words. The last time I was in Riga, friends all complained
that no sooner had they gotten rid of the hegemony of Russian, that
suddenly English was everywhere. I did notice that all of the signs in
Russian were gone. But I didn't see any signs in English. It was a
while before I realized that all of the English had been incorporated
into the written and spoken text of Latvian. Now, Latvians are worried
about the purity of their language.
Languages spoken by small groups of people (There are not quite
two million Latvians in the world.) are struggling to exist.
Phillip
pwhite who-is-at carbon.cudenver.edu