Latgalian Literature Research Articles

DESIGN TRENDS IN CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATION - AN EXAMPLE OF LATGALIAN ABC DESIGN

Children's book illustrations have always been an area that allows artists to make the most of their creative potential. Modern design trends for children's books are changing both in the world and in Latvia. The most relevant of these are minimalism and color purity, simplicity and quality. Research also highlights the choice of illustration and font style in favor of retro style and handwriting. Picture books on the topics of kindness and love are popular in terms of content. Activity books are useful for interactive communication. The aim of the article is to develop the concept of graphic design of the ABC of Latgalian language by studying design trends in children's book illustration and the supply and demand of children's Latgalian literature in Latvia. Research methods: theoretical - research and analysis of literature and Internet resources, empirical - questionnaire, analysis of analogues.

CONCEPT OF CRANE IN LATGALIAN CULTURAL SPACE

As modern science is increasingly seeking to look across the boundaries of one branch and become interdisciplinary, linguacultural approach, comprising more than one scientific discipline, makes research more widespread and more practical, and with the increase of the role of technologies in human life, the way of life changes and the need for anthropological research arises that directly or indirectly enables modern man to maintain the system of values and to create an orderly environment, understanding the regularities of its formation. Exploring the cultural landscape, the human connection with the environment is studied, and such approach is both anthropocentric and interdisciplinary, and today it has gained a broad perspective. The article is based on the understanding of linguacultural concept, and bird is viewed as a concept of cultural identity of Latgale, analysed in its semantic and symbolic manifestations in the context of the cultural landscape of Latgale. Although the study has been carried out on several species of birds (crane, mallard, stork, raven and hawk), this article will focus on the concept of crane. To discover the concept of crane in its diversity, it is seen at three levels, according to the perception of the lexeme crane in folklore, Latgalian literature and the modern social sphere, mainly in place names or names of organizations. In the sources of folklore crane was identified 35 times. Of these, 18 times it was mentioned in folk songs, it was present only in two fairy tales (in one fairy tale the word crane may be repeated many times), as well as in 3 parables, which include one belief and two proverbs. In folk songs, to describe crane, the external characteristics of the bird are emphasized, the physical field of verbs dominates, characteristic features – the long beak and legs. In folk songs the beauty of crane is often used as a comparison to describe an externally handsome young woman or man who lives a life that does not match the morality of the time: if they do not want to marry; if they do not live with honour; or if they live unwisely, etc. This exclusion of a person is described in comparison with the frequent location of cranes (most often young women, less often young men) – a swamp, a marshland. In other folk songs, the long legs of the crane are praised, which help it to wade through the bog. It should be noted that in folklore crane very rarely (only in two units) is referred to as a bird of passage. In folk tales (lexeme crane found in 2 folk tales) the meaning of this lexeme changes: the bird teaches the fox a lesson; also a motif appears in which a boy makes a wooden crane that serves as a vehicle. In general, in folk songs, the meaning of this bird is much more extensive in comparison to other genres, not only the lexical meaning appears but also the meaning transfer, therefore it is possible to acknowledge the formation of the concept of crane. In the sources of Latgalian literature, lexeme crane was identified in 24 word uses in eight sources of literature, suggesting that in literature this is a relatively commonly used image or artistic language means. In the excerpted material, the word crane appears 17 times in the semantic function of the subject, four times in the function of the object and three times in the semantic function of a sign. It is possible to find that in the contemporary Latgalian literature the perception of crane has lost its exactness, at the same time there is a vast emphasis on the meaning of the semantics of the bird of passage in the image of crane, which has not been emphasized in folklore, also there is an obvious association with exiles returning to Latvia after the restoration of independence. This image in action semantically has kept the same fields – the physical and the social, which are also evident in folklore, however, by analysing it in more detail, there are changes of the abovementioned meanings at the symbolic and allegorical level. The signs also indicate that perception of the image of crane in contemporary Latgalian literature, which was found in folklore, has basically been lost. The name of crane is quite often used in the names of companies and place names. It is not evident that in this sphere crane has any symbolic meaning, as the main reason for its use is crane’s habitat, but the variety of its names indicates that the image of crane is lively and changeable.

THE WAY TO LATGALIAN LITERATURE DURING THE 90s OF THE 20TH CENTURY

THE WAY TO LATGALIAN LITERATURE DURING THE 90s OF THE 20TH CENTURY

LATGALIAN LITERATURE AND HISTORY OF LATVIAN LITERATURE – TRADITION AND PERSPECTIVES

Latgalian literature has received relatively little attention in most studies of Latvian literature, regardless of the time or the type of the studies made, be they studies of individual or collaborative nature. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, it was largely caused by prohibition of Latgalian publications printed in the Latin alphabet. In the following periods Latgalian literature was overlooked because of lack of awareness, sometimes, also by deliberate ignorance, which was dictated by the political situation. Exploration of the current situation is the goal of this study, namely, to present a summary of what has already been accomplished and to indicate the directions where new studies are urgently needed, ideally – through joint examination of Latvian and Latgalian literatures. The summary is based on the analysis of the regularities and main issues found in the works on the history of Latgalian literature. Careful analysis of the literary processes, authors and significant literary works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as their exposure in the studies of the history of Latvian literature reveals that a short insight in publishing of Latgalian books and periodicals was given, for instance, by Teodors Zeiferts in his fundamental study ‘History of Latvian Literature, Part 2 and 3’ (Latviešu rakstniecības vēsture, 1923, 1925), and Jānis Niedre in ‘Latvian Literature. Part 2’ (Latviešu literatūra, 1953); small essays were also included in the volumes of the collaborative study developed under Ludis Bērziņš’ chief editing ‘History of Latvian Literature’ (Latviešu literatūras vēsture, 1935–1937). However, Latgalian literature was hardly mentioned in the textbooks for the secondary schools (Vilis Plūdons ‘History of Latvian literature for secondary schools, Part 1 and 2’ (Latvju literatūras vēsture vidusskolām, 1927, 1928); Roberts Klaustiņš ‘History of Latvian Literature’ (Latviešu rakstniecības vēsture, 1907)). Neither was it paid any attention by Andrejs Upīts in his ‘History of Contemporary Latvian Literature’ (Latviešu jaunākās rakstniecības vēsture, 1885–1910 (1911)). This leads to a conclusion that the attitude towards the literature written in Latgalian was ambiguous in the first half of the 20th century as it was not fully incorporated in the conceptual analysis of the development processes of Latvian literature. The voluminous ‘History of Latvian Literature’ (Latviešu literatūras vēsture, Volume 1–6, 1956–1963), which was developed during the Soviet period, included depiction of several Latgalian writers: such as Andrivs Jūrdžs and Pīters Miglinīks (Volume 2, 1963); nevertheless they did not provide a sufficient overview of the singularity and development of Latgalian literature and its comparability with the history of Latvian literature. In the editions of the history of Latvian literature, which were written after regain of the national independence, Latgalian literature has not received any focused attention either by the authors of the 3-volume ‘History of Latvian Literature’ (Latviešu literatūras vēsture, 1998–2001) or by, for instance, Guntis Berelis in his monograph study ‘History of Latvian Literature, from the First Writings to 1999’. Having gained no wide coverage in the historical studies of Latvian literature, Latgalian literature has been fundamentally researched in several monographic works of Miķelis Bukšs, Francis Kemps, Janīna Kursīte, Valentīns Lukaševičs, Ilona Salceviča, Alberts Sprūdžs, Anna Stafecka, Vitolds Valeinis and other researchers at various time periods. Nonetheless, the question still stands: whether and how to compare and synchronise Latgalian literature with periodisation and trends of Latvian literature in order to include it in the comprehensive overview of the literature history.

LATGALIAN COMPONENT IN THE LEARNING OF LATVIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE: FROM PRESCHOOL TO SECONDARY SCHOOL (1990–2015)

The conditions of language development and preservation are the quality of its acquisition in the early childhood, in-depth usage and study in the educational process and formation of positive and responsible attitude towards language and national literary heritage. The quality of the development of child’s Latvian language is determined by several environmental factors: the language environment in the family, the language environment in preschool, basic and secondary educational institutions and the language environment in public space.In Latgale most children learn Latvian in heterogeneous sociolinguistic environment. Child’s acquisition of the Latvian language in the family occurs in one of the following ways: in the native dialect (variant of dialect), if all the family members communicate only in one of our dialects, the High Latvian dialect; in the Latvian standard language, if the family members communicate in the standard language; in the so-called “third variant”, if the communication is in the Latvian standard language with a strong dialectal influence; or bilingually (dialect – Latvian standard language, dialect – Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Belarusian or some other language, Latvian standard language – Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Belarusian or some other language).Experience acquired during the project “Latvian Language in Monolingual and Bilingual Acquisition: tools, theories and applications” (LAMBA) shows that a part of our High Latvian dialect-speaking parents found it difficult to answer MacArthur-Bate Communicative development test questions, which were formed according to the Latvian standard language system. As communication with children takes place only in their native dialect, there are differences between child’s speech and the standard language at phonological and morphological level. At the same time, parents, after consultation on how to complete the test, noted that the quality of learning Latvian at school is better than learning at home where incorrect colloquial Latvian is used. Latvian language users in other parts of Latvia faced a similar problem, but in general it did not seriously affect the performance of the test. Students emphasize that more knowledge about interrelation between the Latvian dialectal and standard language would make the Latvian language acquisition process easier and help avoid interference of the native dialect. Language learning at school takes place in a monolingual environment, but some schools offer optional courses also in the Latgalian written (standard) language and literature. Outside the classroom, communication goes on in both, standard Latvian and native dialect and other languages.Language environment of the public space is heterogeneous; children hear different High Latvian variants as well as the so-called “third variant” which causes the most harm, both to Latgalian and Latvian standard languages and other languages. Taking into consideration the fact that two traditions of the written language have historically developed in Latvia – the Latvian standard language, and the Latgalian standard language tradition – and the Latgalian standard language is a very important component of Latgale regional and cultural identity and significant cultural value of Latvia, State Language Law 3 (4) determines that “the State ensures the preservation, protection and development of the Latgalian standard language as a historical option of the Latvian language”. Language knowledge, its usage in the learning process and the knowledge of literary and cultural heritage in close connection with national values are preconditions of language development and retention. Therefore, it is important that the school curricula and literature contain both Latvian and Latgalian. This report focuses, firstly, on how the school curricula and learning standards reflect the necessity to form and develop the Latgalian standard language and literature, secondly, how these issues are revealed in the text books of the Latvian language and literature developed from 1990 to 2015 and thirdly, it deals with secondary school students’ survey results on the knowledge of the Latgalian standard language and literature. Analysis of the standards and curricula of the primary school and secondary school subject “Latvian language” and “Literature” reveals that neither the Latgalian standard language as an option of the Latvian language, nor fiction written in the Latgalian standard language are reflected in text books. The text books developed during the last 20 years deal with these thematic issues only sporadically.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PUBLISHING HOUSE OF LATGALE CULTURE CENTRE IN THE 90TIES OF 20TH CENTURY: DISCOURSE OF LANGUAGE

Considering that at the moment we are working on a broader study about the Latgalian literary trends in modern times (since the 90s of the 20th century), policy determination of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre is an important stage in Latgalian publishing. Originally the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre brings together the brightest Latgalian writers, researchers and is the only centre of books published in Latgalian, but at the turn of the century due to various factors the situation changes. In this article correspondence of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre (1990–1997) is used as a source of research from copies of letters which are kept at the research centre of Baltic philology at Rēzekne Academy of Technologies (21 sets of letters with a 191 letters); an interview with the Head of the publishing house Jānis Elksnis and separate articles in periodicals on the activity of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre are sources of this research. The aim of this article is with the help of the mentioned correspondence and available documents to reveal the book publishing policy of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre, its role in Latgalian book publishing, as well as to focus attention on the understanding of the functionality of Latgalian language development in this correspondence and operating policies. Theoretical basis includes ideas of critical discourse analysis represented by Norman Fairclough (1995) and socio-cognitive approach represented by Teun van Dijk (2006), highlighting the role of discursive practices in creating stereotypes and influence of social identity on the creation of specific ideology.Existence of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre all this time, of course, is the merit of the dedication and enthusiasm of the head of the publishing house J. Elksnis. In literary critical terminology, we can say that all the time the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre is in a border situation: during the 90s of the 20th century there were a relatively large number of Latgalian writers and scientists, but the publishing, book distribution, marketing skills of the publishing house employees were negligible.This situation was more favourable for Latgalian literature and activity of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre in general during the first decade (1999–2008) of the 21st century: the total number of books published: 241; books published in Latgalian: 81; 5 of them published repeatedly. Throughout the period of existence of this publishing house (according to the available data) 562 books were published, 135 of them in Latgalian or bilingual editions (18 books published repeatedly).Analysis of the correspondence gives a possibility to understand why many problems connected to the Latgalian culture and language are being dealt with so slowly or continue to be unimportant and unknown to wider public.First, assessing the initial stage of activity of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre, it comes obvious that efforts of the non-governmental organizations, dedication and enthusiasm of individual personalities can explain or activate some process, but the solution of the problem or maintenance of a process in long term needs a broader institutional support and focused planning of publishing. On the one hand, the formally defined status of Latgalian “as a historical option of the Latvian language” does not create obstacles for the usage of Latgalian in further and optional education, publishing of books and periodicals and its usage in local municipalities. On the other hand, such status is like a throwback which is remembered about only during pre-election and in discourse on separatism and as a threat to the development of the Latvian literary language and as a tool for entertainment industry to create comical effect or contribute to the development of pop music in another region.Second, the internal disagreement, which emerged in the correspondence between freelancers and volunteers during the 90s, was mainly attributable to the language reform and divided the intellectuals who wrote and read in Latgalian, as a result of which most of elder generation authors protected catholic standards and stood up for the preservation of P. Strods’ writing and V. Locis’ traditions, as well as it was supported by the catholic church in their choice of language to print religious texts, and it was also adopted by the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre. Hence the main mission of the Publishing House of Latgale Culture Centre – to cultivate Latgalian language and develop literature – was functioning only in one direction (especially after the adoption of spelling rules in 2008) – maintenance of literary almanac “Olūts” and edition “Tāvu zemes calendars” and creating the background literature, which in fact promoted the so-called third dialect and prevented the young and middle generation from involvement in the development Latgalian cultural environment.

INSPIRATIONS AND DISCOVERIES OF IDENTITY IN VILIS DZĒRVINĪKS’ POETRY

<p>Vilis Dzērvinīks was born on 16 March 1959 in Kromani village, Kaunata parish, Rēzekne district in the family of a blacksmith Jānis and a primary school teacher Antoņina. He studied in Ziedoņu elementary school, Rēzekne secondary school, that was graduated in 1975, Rēzekne Secondary school No. 1, that was graduated in 1977, Riga vocational training school No. 19, that was graduated in 1978 acquiring a general building master’s qualification. From 1978 to 1980 he served in the railway troops on Baikal–Amur Mainline. In 1988 he started to acquire a correspondence course at RPI (now – Riga Technical University) faculty of general technical sciences, where he completed four courses. In 1988 he began to work in LKP (Communist Party of Latvia) committee of Ludza district as an instructor in the Culture Department, in 1990 he was nominated by LTF (The Popular Front of Latvia) and elected as the Chairman of the Board of the deputies of Ludza town. In October 1991 he was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Ludza city. Later he moved to Rēzekne and was the owner of the company “Komforts” (by Paukštė, Rancāne, Salcevica, Vilčuka 2008: 160–161).</p><p>V. Dzērvinīks’ creative work has not been studied widely and its analysis has also missed out in the context of Latvian literature, but V. Dzērvinīks’ poetry has strengthened the usage of contemporary Latgalian language, as well as contributed to the development of Latgalian literature.</p><p>The article aims to reveal the factors of inspiration and identity them in V. Dzērvinīks’ creative work, describing the author’s characteristic traits. The findings of the research are based mainly on V. Dzērvinīks’ literary heritage, as well as on newspaper and book materials about V. Dzērvinīks.</p><p>The sources of the research are V. Dzērvinīks’ three volumes of poetry: “Laimeigu īsadūmōt” (2001), “Voi moz lidmašinu kreit” (2003), “Upers” (2006). To describe the author’s inspiration factors, there were used the following exploratory methods: psychology of creative work (A. Potebņa, R. Mūks) and structural semiotics (J. Lotman, R. Veidemane).</p><p>Inspiration factors can be divided into literary and non-literary ones, but it is impossible to draw a clear boundary between them, but the concept of identity is too broad and frequently used. Human identity (-ies) is formed during the person’s lifetime and is dependent on many factors. V. Dzērvinīks’ creative work depicts powerfully his affiliation to Latgalian, i. e., in this case we can speak of V. Dzērvinīks’ ethnic identity. Ethnic identity is formed, when a person accepts ethnicity-specific traditions, based on language and culture. V. Dzērvinīks’ ethnic identity is expressed both as a political and social participation in favor of Latgale and Latgalian language, that is the language of his creative writings and the dignity of Latgalian Heritage. Latgalian authors and cultural workers, who have spiritually enriched Latgale, are Antons Kūkojs, Pēteris Jurciņš, Ingrīda Tārauda, Anna Rancāne, Andris Vējāns, Antons Slišāns, Osvalds Kravalis etc., as well as emotional kinship with places of Latgale – Rēzekne, Ludza, Idzipoles Lake, Zvirgzdenes Lake, Kromanu village etc. Latgalian is considered as the familiar, but “čiuliskais” (‘other Latvians’) as the strange one.</p><p>Identity (particularity) is the person’s self-perception, self-characterization, which consists of an individual’s behavior patterns in different situations; this is how a person perceives himself. And, if there is created the inspiration – the model of identity relationships, then the inspiration is the impulse, the identity is the result of the impulse or it is something, that is formed in the result of inspiration. V. Dzērvinīks’ sources of inspiration can be viewed from two perspectives: firstly, analyzing the author’s creative writings, revealing the hidden motives of poems, and secondly, searching for answers in V. Dzērvinīks’ interviews and articles about the author.</p><p>Politics has been a bright non-literary inspiration factor in the author’s poetry. This is reflected both in the choice of the theme of poetry and the use of sharp and stinging irony and sarcasm, sharply dividing the oppositions such as familiar– unfamiliar, authorities–people.</p><p>Love as a non-literary source of inspiration creates the atmosphere of melancholy and longing lyrics in the poetry. Often it is an intimate poetry, because it is dedicated to a particular recipient. A woman in this poetry is divinized, because she is the muse – an inexhaustible source of inspiration.</p><p>V. Dzērvinīks’ Latgalian identity is revealed as a factor of non-literary inspiration. The proof of this identity is reflected both in the lyrics I self-revelation, acknowledging, that he is Latgalian, as well as in the choice of the tone of poems, when Latgalian is the familiar one, but the rest is the strange one.</p>

THE CONCEPT OF SHADOW IN LATGALIAN CULTURE SPACE

THE CONCEPT OF SHADOW IN LATGALIAN CULTURE SPACE

SOME NOTES ON LATGALIAN BOOKS IN THE MASSIVE UNION CATALOGUE „ANCIENT PRINTS IN LATVIAN 1525–1855” (1999)

<p>Chronology of books published in Latgalian can be traced in bibliographical indexes of G. Manteuffel, V. Seile, J. Misiņš and fragmentarily in that of K. Estreicher. Latgalian publications have most broadly been reflected in the massive union catalogue of the National Library of Latvian „Ancient Prints in Latvian 1525–1855” (1999) – from the first known book of songs and prayers (1730) to „Gromotu dzismiu łacinsku” (1855). The massive union catalogue contains entries on 94 prints in Latgalian – existence of 8 of them is questioned or denied – 59 have been preserved to this day, 27 still remain unknown. Compilers of the catalogue have done a great job which deserves praise.</p><p>Descriptions of prints use studies by literary historians which have not always been scientifically correct. Aim of the article – to attach importance to the need for and the chance to identify original sources of Latgalian prints and authors (localizers, translators) of spiritual literature.</p><p>The article outlines the issue of authors of certain books, identifies the source of one book, points at certain little known fragmentary texts and handwritten books as well as the chance to search for and find new Latgalian publications today. It all clarifies the picture of Latgalian literature of the early period.</p><p>In Poland several publications of small catechism in two languages – Polish-French – were known, by indication also of the author of the writing. It is possible to compare the Latgalian publication „Eysa sałasieyszona” with „Mały katechizm historyczny” published in 1819 in Wroclaw, just the text of Latgalian catechism is monolingual, resp. Latgalian.</p><p>In Latgalian books usually their translators or authors are not specified. No matter how unusual it sounds, still it has not been demonstrated that Latgalian spiritual literature was only a translated literature, that there are no original writings.</p><p>This time the notes on Latgalian books could end with an optimistic statement that still it is possible to find non-studied manuscripts prepared for publication. Striking evidence for that is text (sermons) book recently found in Alsunga, in the Alsunga church tower detected by the priest Andris Vasiļevskis.</p><p>While in the Academic Library of the University of Latvia„Licieyba brolisties wyssu swatoku sirzu Jezu un Maryas. Pi Feymanu Baźnieycas” is still kept, not mentioned in the main catalogue and signed by the priest Jezups Macilevičs in 1853.</p><p>„Gromota łyugszonu” published in 1820 is found in a book storage of Liepaja St. Joseph’s Catholic cathedral, which unlike the copy as described in the main catalogue (S: 1037), has remained much more complete, i. e. it has a cover page, the book has 385 pages in addition to the table of contents.</p>

Latgalian literature in exile

Latgalian literature in exile