Latvian
As part of its Baltic Studies program, the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington offers two years of classroom instruction in Latvian as well as an opportunity for continued independent study of the language.
Program Overview
Degree availability: B.A. / M.A. / Ph.D.
Years offered:2 years + independent study
Contact: Department of Scandinavian Studies
Scholarships
Study Abroad
Course Information
Course Catalog
- LATV 101 First Year Latvian 1
- LATV 102 First Year Latvian 2
- LATV 103 First Year Latvian 3
- LATV 111/112/113 Basic Latvian
- LATV 150 Intensive Latvian
- LATV 201/202/203 Second-Year Latvian
- LATV 211/212/213 Intermediate Written Latvian
- LATV 250 Intensive Intermediate Latvian
- LATV 310 Topics in Latvian Literature
- LATV 490 Supervised Reading
Faculty's Recent Research
Publications
- Guntis Šmidchens, Dziesmu vara: Nevardarbīga nacionālā kultūra Baltijas dziesmotajā revolūcijā. Latvian Translation of Power of Song, 2014. Riga, Latvia: Apgāds Mansards, 2017.
- Pošeiko, S. (2015). The Latvian language in the Linguistic Landscape of Daugavpils (The middle of the 19th century – nowadays). Journal of Education, Culture and Society 2. pp. 320–336.
- Garbes, H. and A. Schmidt. “Baltic Languages: Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian,” in D. Karna, ed., The Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet in the Choral Rehearsal. Landham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2012.
- Kristīne Motivāne. “Language: Our Obligation, Our Responsibility.” Latvian Herald. 2009.
- “My Motorcycle” 19 poems by Imants Ziedonis. Latvian Literature #7 (2008): 5-38.
- “My Motorcycle” 19 poems by Imants Ziedonis. Latvian Literature #7 (2008): 5-38.
- Kristīne Motivāne, G. Kjava. “Proficiency and Usage of Latvian Language in the Institutions of Higher Education. Results of Educational Reform.” State Language Agency of Latvia:,2008.
- Guntis Šmidchens. “Notes on the Latvian National Epic Hero, Lacplesis.” Journal of Folklore Research 43.3 (2006): 271-280.
- Guntis Šmidchens. Translation from Latvian to English, “Latvian Bourdon Songs.” Baltic Voices. Harmonia Mundi, Volume 1, HMU 907311: 2003.
Student Success Stories
More About Latvian
Global
- Over 2 million speakers worldwide.
- While native to Latvia, it is also spoken in 20 countries.
Learning
- One of Europe’s oldest living languages.
- It has kept many old grammar rules similar to those found in very old languages.
Culture & Diplomacy
- It is an official language of EU.
Travel & Career
Learn More
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Latvian National library
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Riga Capital
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Riga City
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Baltic Sea, Latvia