The aim of the Languages Award is to recognize excellence and achievement related to individual contributions and accomplishments in the promotion of the Latvian language in Estonia and the Estonian language in Latvia. The winner will be announced by the foreign ministers of Estonia and Latvia.
In accordance with the Award Regulations, a translation, a piece of research, a language learning project (including a journalistic programme, article or broadcast on language promotion) in Estonia or in Latvia, a journalist, a language teacher or a higher education institution faculty member can be nominated for the Languages Award. Both persons and institutions can be nominated.
The Languages Award of 3,000 euros is annual, receiving equal contributions from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and Latvia. The Jury of the Languages Award consists of representatives from the Latvian and Estonian Ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as language and literature experts from both countries.
The Languages Award will be awarded for the thirteenth time. The Award has been previously granted to Maima Grīnberga (2009, 2012), Guntars Godiņš (2010, 2013, 2018), Kalev Kalkun (2011), Margus Konnula alias Contra (2014), Valts Ernštreits (2015), Livia Viitol (2016), Rūta Karma (2017), Ilze Tālberga (2019) and Lembit Vaba (2020).
The Language Award nominations for 2021 can be submitted until 28 April 2022 and full details of the criteria and regulations are available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
