As stated in LU's annotation, “Latvian Grammar” was written to make information about the Latvian language and its grammatical system more easily available not only within Latvia, but also beyond its borders. A modern grammar of Latvian written in English is as important for native speakers of Latvian as for those who have learned Latvian as a second language and also is of great value for anyone interested in the culture and history of Latvia or the Latvian language itself.
As the authors told Latvian Radio's broadcast Kultūras rondo July 16, the book had taken much longer than expected, around seven years.
“We had not previously anticipated that one thing was to write the Latvian text, then to translate it into English, then to process the examples in a special way so that they could be understood, and then we had to re-edit it – at least two, if not three times, to review the entire text, to reconsider it,“ said Andra Kalnača.
Ilze Lokmane believes that the book will be useful for many: the Latvian diaspora abroad, their children, those who learn Latvian as a foreign language, and also foreign linguists.
The monograph is a deep dive into three aspects of grammar: morphonology, morphology, and syntax, with elaborate descriptions, charts and tables. The extensive introduction provides information about the history of the language and contemporary dialects, so be prepared for a serious read in a serious Latvian fashion.
The book “Latvian Grammar” is available in print and in PDF for free (accessible here).
