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OK, in Latvia, do not speak Russian
Language is a funny thing: When you say something wrong, even in a foreign tongue, you don't have to be told you made a mistake. The reaction says it all.It comes in the form of a stony face, a pause, and an answer that in itself is a correction.
At least that's what I was thinking about today. I'm writing this from Latvia, a country that has its own language – Latvian – and a de facto language, Russian, that was the lingua franca here throughout decades of communism.
Unfortunately, I don't know a word of Latvian. Instead, approaching a shopkeeper a little while ago, I spoke to her in Russian. Zd`rravstvuite, I said, using the basic hello in Russian, and proceeded to ask her how much a scarf cost (it's **bleeping** cold here!). I speak enough Russian to ask the very basics: how much, where to, what is good.
But I awakened her ire with my Russian greeting. She returned it with something I didn't understand, and proceeded to answer all my questions decidedly not in Russian.
It was a reminder that this is one of the fiercest battling grounds in the former Soviet Bloc for the sustainability of the Russian language.
Sure, you've got the countries that were members of the Warsaw Pact, places like the Czech Republic and Poland, who maintained their own language traditions. But the countries that were actually part of greater Russia during communist times spoke their own language merely as dialect, which bowed to the hegemony of Mother Russia's tongue.
Now, Russia is complaining that its language is under fire in countries like Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Russia is making it a human right's case: There is a sizable ethnic Russian majority spread throughout the Baltics, particularly in Latvia.
When Latvia achieved independence in the 1990s it quickly began to marginalize the ethnic Russian population that had settled here, giving citizenship to anyone who would claim purely Latvia ethnicity. Yet scores of Russians settled here during the Cold War era and gave birth to children here. Latvia's position has eased in recent years, but it still will not grant citizenship (not an insignificant thing, given its EU membership) to you unless you can demonstrate a mastery of Latvian history and the Latvian language.
This has incensed Latvia's ethnic Russian population, which stands at around 30 percent of the population. Latvians haven't helped things: the government has moved to close ethnic Russian schools and for those that remain open the government has made it mandatory that classes are taught more than half of the time in Latvian.
Is there much of a difference between the two languages? Most Latvians, certainly of a specific age, understand Russians fluently, and a lot of ethnic-Russians living here understand Latvian, if only generally. I have a good background in Slavic languages and I can pick out understanding in both. [Update: Many readers have kindly corrected the erroneous assertion implied in this sentence, specifically that Latvian is a Slavic language. It is not. Still, despite it belonging to another linguistic family, I can still pull out the occasional word (especially spoken numbers) because they sound similar to the Slavic languages I am more familiar with.]
But it's an illustration of what language means, even in today's European Union, where you sometimes have to lay claim to a certain background or experience if it means your national identity.
Thinking about this, it certainly explains the cold reception I received, and serves as a reminder that in today's Latvia, there might be a better way to say hello (Sveiki).
Sure, you've got the countries that were members of the Warsaw Pact, places like the Czech Republic and Poland, who maintained their own language traditions. But the countries that were actually part of greater Russia during communist times spoke their own language merely as dialect, which bowed to the hegemony of Mother Russia's tongue.
Now, Russia is complaining that its language is under fire in countries like Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Russia is making it a human right's case: There is a sizable ethnic Russian majority spread throughout the Baltics, particularly in Latvia.
When Latvia achieved independence in the 1990s it quickly began to marginalize the ethnic Russian population that had settled here, giving citizenship to anyone who would claim purely Latvia ethnicity. Yet scores of Russians settled here during the Cold War era and gave birth to children here. Latvia's position has eased in recent years, but it still will not grant citizenship (not an insignificant thing, given its EU membership) to you unless you can demonstrate a mastery of Latvian history and the Latvian language.
This has incensed Latvia's ethnic Russian population, which stands at around 30 percent of the population. Latvians haven't helped things: the government has moved to close ethnic Russian schools and for those that remain open the government has made it mandatory that classes are taught more than half of the time in Latvian.
Is there much of a difference between the two languages? Most Latvians, certainly of a specific age, understand Russians fluently, and a lot of ethnic-Russians living here understand Latvian, if only generally. I have a good background in Slavic languages and I can pick out understanding in both. [Update: Many readers have kindly corrected the erroneous assertion implied in this sentence, specifically that Latvian is a Slavic language. It is not. Still, despite it belonging to another linguistic family, I can still pull out the occasional word (especially spoken numbers) because they sound similar to the Slavic languages I am more familiar with.]
But it's an illustration of what language means, even in today's European Union, where you sometimes have to lay claim to a certain background or experience if it means your national identity.
Thinking about this, it certainly explains the cold reception I received, and serves as a reminder that in today's Latvia, there might be a better way to say hello (Sveiki).
Filed under: Latvia
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Ruziklan Mar 10th 2009 6:29PM
Seemingly, as is usual for Central and Eastern European issues, outsider's view is skewed. While there are people here everywhere (Baltic countries, former Czechoslovakia, former Yugoslavia) that promote the one-sided view (especially those feeling injustice from the other side in the past), many people are able to see multiple facets of the picture.
I am writing this as a Slovak with Hungarian name (Slovak-Hungarian issues are hot issue now) born in the town currently in Czechia (Czecho-Slovak divorce following the Velvet Revolution was fortunately quite peaceful) speaking also Russian (learnt compulsorily six years in the school, we had to as citizens of a prominent member country in the Soviet bloc) who recently visited Riga and Jurmala (and really enjoyed it).
My point is that I had virtually no problems speaking Russian in restaurants, shops or in the streets. While there were some frowns, there were in clear minority and I have found locals welcoming. I find the view of the article author quite extreme, it is unjust to judge the nation by one experience in the shop. Maybe the owner's father was sent to prison by communists, then it would be understandable. Yet the reality in everyday life of most CEE countries is not so full of ethnic and national conflicts as one could judge from news (media are obviously looking for blood).
Alex Vinogradoff Mar 13th 2009 1:21PM
At first there was a fine for not speaking Latvian in the place of business. Then they figured, it won't fly all that well with Latvia being a EU member, and the borders open... So now there is a fine for speaking non-EU languages in the place of business. And Russian... is not a EU language ;) So the lady in the article, refusing to respond in Russian, was just trying to avoid the fine she had no money to pay...
petra Dec 11th 2010 1:39PM
or simply she was not educated. probably from a chicken farm or somthn...
Tara Maya Mar 12th 2009 2:03PM
My friend lived in Latvia for two years, teaching English, and talked about Latvians who spoke fluent Russian and broken English would still rather try to communicate in English.
Maria Mar 13th 2009 6:41AM
Until now I have never heard of a country where you can be fined for speaking another language. Is thinking still allowed? Quite astonishing....
angel Jan 20th 2010 8:13PM
It is a total nonsense, there is no fine of it! Never heard something more stupid! Anyway, I would strongly disagree that if you speak russian in latvia they will be rude and may be won't answer...In tourism, sales etc fields it could never happen, cause it's a business and customer is a king. If he speak russian, you have to answer in russian ( sure, if you can).
Yes, I am the one who have quite negative attitude towards russians and the language as a whole. Latvia is a small country and like someone stated above, latvians deserve place in the world where they can live "latvian". It is tiny country comparing to the world and to Russia. I wouldn't say that I am proud what's happening there nowadays, but I will never say that I hate Latvia. Only russians could say something like that...And Nikita, how you say that you are latvian if after you are russian? Are you both?
I agree that younger generation have negative attitute towards russians, but how can you feel that taxi driver starts to speak with you in russian? Or in the shop they speak russian though we are in Latvia. Lately I answer only in latvian, because I don't think I have to answer in russian, why? I have no respect to russians who have lived in latvia for all their lives and can't learn the language..Ok, about the foreigner was it's the other case, but still...If you speak basic russian, is it so difficult to learn "basic latvian"?
I don't consider myself nationalist or something, but I do consider myself patriotic...And it is so sad when I come to Latvia (I am currently living abroad) and I can hear 60% of russian around me...Then I have to start to wonder if I am in the right country...Anyway, I could talk much about this subject, but I guess it won't change the things. And Marina - I am glad that you are happy that you left the country - good for you, brits probably are happy ;)
Maria Jan 21st 2010 8:10AM
It's Maria, by the way, not Marina. And the brits and I are very happy together, thank you very much. In all honesty I forgot about this topic, had to re-visit it, nothing really changed it seems. This comment is priceless though. Patriot living abroad, that made me chuckle. I thought the whole point of being a patriot is that you stay put, procreate, have lots of little latvian children, so that you can instill in them from birth your negative attitude to the russians, how bad they are, the evil things they do etc, etc. I am sorry if I sound factitious but I find it very difficult to feel any real empathy towards the latvians who seem to have this hatred towards the russians embedded in their genes. What about the 'live and let live' attitude, that would be so refreshing, but I guess that would never happen. And yet in the UK when any latvians or lithuanians come over and start claiming benefits from the state, the councils are bending over to help them, find them translators etc. And that comes from my taxes... Funny thing this EU.
nikita Mar 22nd 2009 12:08PM
I am a Latvian and I hate Latvia! Quite astounding isn't it? Russian is my NATIVE language though. The problem of my country is the CURRUPTION of EVERYONE who is a politician. Heh we have a Sun Castle (mega uber super terrifik and blalbabla national library) that is being build from the day I was born and the only thing do - foundation! Do you cnow how much mony was thrown in it ? It is a big shame for me so I won't tell you!
Marisa Apr 9th 2009 10:38AM
I agree with Juris Lapins... the proximity of the Latvian and Russian languages does not guarantee their similarity. I speak Latvian fluently, but Russian is hieroglyphics to me.
In addition, I think it's cruel to assume Latvians need to speak Russian. Mr. Author, you give the impression that you think that the Baltics and other countries previously dominated by Soviets are merely Russian countries... like California being an American state of the U.S. They are NOT- the cultures of Russia and Latvia, for example, are very different, and originate from very different places. The Latvian culture dates back to more than a thousand years ago, when there was no trace of Russian influence. If Italy had been assimilated into the Soviet bloc, would you afterward cry that the Russian language was dying? No, you would be trying to preserve the Italian language.
If it was just a simple case of a country's minority (Russians) not being able to uphold their culture, I would understand your case. But it is NOT a simple case of neutral habitation. I'm not saying the current generation is guilty, but they are at least a reminder of the fact that the Russians' ancestors took over the Latvian ancestors' cities, forbade THEIR culture and language, and deported thousands out of the country to never return again. Despite what Russia may claim today, the Latvian history is up there with the Holocaust, but not as well known because of its small people.
It is the Latvian language we should be concerned about preserving, and I think that the Latvians deserve a place in the world where they can live a purely Latvian life.
petra May 7th 2009 4:35PM
I have russian background but was born in Latvia. It is not my fault that those comunist times ever existed. Simply because I wasn't born then yet.
I was born in Latvia, fullstop. It is unfair and humiliating that I can't just get the citizenship of the country I was born in. Am I worse than other kids that were born in native latvians' families?
It is sad when your own country considers you as an alien, and that you have to work your way through to become an equal part of the society.
What difference would it make to me if I left my home country, when I feel like I'm a foreigner there anyway. I speak Latvian, but I don't want to be looked down at when they hear my russian accent.
Ivar Dec 30th 2010 11:33AM
Just short note.
Russians are most ignorant and shovinistic nation upon this sky. It is proved by history! It is probably the only nation who do not respect any culture but Russian! This is nation of conquerors who rely just on quantity of those who expect themselves as Russians! Just to quantity and empty,stupid imaginations of superiority over other nations! Superiority by what? Russians in fact are not Russians as a nation at all anymore - they could be called as a 'Soviets' as they are over poisoned by Stalinistic brainwashing and propaganda and already are forgotten they real roots! Most of Russians just blindly follow this idiotic propaganda with no understanding of what they accept! They would be happy to see all the world wrapped in red by the hummer and sickle on the top! They are so blind (stupid) that they even do not understand that the Reds destroyed all the culture of Russia and thousands of Russians were slaughtered in very different ways physically! This is not a nation anymore,but a crowd of kiborgs who believe just in power of quantity,doesn't matter what quality they are bringing to the world! Here we can see a deep influence of Zionists as they made all this mess,but - who cares?!
As for now some 700.000 russians are crying that they are discriminated in Latvia. Isn't it some kind of joke?! 700.000 from 2 millions of inhabitants feel discriminated! God,save the Russians! Just stop the waving the red flags when celebrating the Stalinistic festivals and start to understand and accept the culture of the country we are living at instead! Can you? Wish you? Well,how could you if the blood of innocent people of different nations you were conquered are laying onto your conscience?!
There are 3 evils upon this sky-Russians,Americans and Zionists!
Peter May 14th 2009 9:53AM
to Petra:
Whopping lie. Why are you doing so? Why?...
petra Dec 11th 2010 1:29PM
Dear PETER, don't embarrass yourself. May be it's better to remain silent when you have zero competence about the topic.
Why don't you go and check some regulations on citizenship in Latvia and then come back to us with some knowledge ;)
And for the future life in general, think twice before accuse people of a lie, PETER.
bath mateus Dec 21st 2009 6:54PM
nice posting....i like it...it is really helpful to all...
Bathmate
Aleks Sep 15th 2010 2:21PM
What was Latvian SSR, Dima? Was there such a country? No. The country was the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics that ceased to exist in 1991. Citizens of that country consequently lost their Soviet citizenship, but did not qualify for the automatic citizenship in the new independent Latvia.
I'm a Russian. Was born in the USSR in 1976. My family traces its lineage to Latvia since before it became independent in 1918. I am a citizen of Latvia by descent. My roots are here. My family are citizens as well. Even my mother who was born in Gorky, Russian Federation in 1953. She is a citizen automatically. Your going happy to live elsewhere means that you have no connection to this country. No roots whatsoever. You still live in your dream little world, whining about the loss of the citizenship and roam around without a country. And therein lies a difference between you, a Russian, and me, also a Russian.
petra Dec 11th 2010 1:18PM
What are you talking about? Russians hardly respect each other. And
Latvians are also far from perfect. So let's not bitch about who
killed whom and who is to blame for it. It was in past. We're dealing
with present now. Every nation has the right to celebrate their
national holiday, regardless of where they live in Russia or Africa.
But Latvia is being brainwashed for years by the "smart ones" that use
Cezar's old way of defeating. It's easier to rule the country when you
split it into pieces. I. E. Divide Latvia into Russians and Latvians,
and turn them against each other, like in cock fight. And they will do
your job for you. And then you get a perfect country to utilize for
your own purposes! U gotta be blind not see it. Everyone will die of
starvation in this country at some point. And it won't matter if
you're russian or latvian or marsian. They will starve you to death.
But sure you'd be happy if russians died first, wouldn't ya? If yes,
that would mean nothing but your being another average brainwashed
civilian. And God, bless your little soul then.
Evangelista Sep 14th 2012 12:53PM
every russian-speaking kid is taught both latvian and english, meanwhile latvian-speaking kids do not usually learn russian because it's not an official language. so eventually it appears that it's much harder for them to find proper jobs, because almost 40% of latvian population is russian and employers only care about their money, so you have to know thee languages to be competitive.