LU konference
According to the research supervisor Inta Mieriņa, the survey demonstrated that inadequate Latvian language skills among potential ’remigrants’, their family members and children can become a serious obstacle for their return to Latvia.
The survey revealed that 70% of respondents (family members and parents of the children) reported that children aged 3-17 living abroad can understand Latvian well or very well, and 55 % - speak Latvian well, but have difficulties with writing and reading in Latvian. In fact, approximately half of them cannot write or read in Latvian at all. It is important that one third of Latvian diaspora children would not be able to communicate in Latvian. Those who have left Latvia in childhood, especially at an early age forget the language. Meanwhile, for those who are born abroad learning Latvian is a significant challenge.
The present situation is defined by the language use in family. According to the survey, only 40 % of respondents who spoke Latvian before leaving the country (and currently not living alone) now have Latvian only policy in the family. One third (34 %) of the families has given up using Latvian in the family at all, whereas every fourth family (26 %) uses Latvian and another language. Due to some reasons, Russian language loss among Russian speaking families develops much slower.
It is interesting that the Latvians living abroad want their children to understand Latvian: approximately two thirds (68 %) of the respondents want their children to have a good command of the language; 22 % want their children at least to understand it and communicate in it, whereas only 7 % admit that knowing Latvian by children is not important for them. Unfortunately, due to various reasons parents cannot fulfil this wish. The analysis of the research results shows that reading books in Latvian, in addition to using language, has a key role. The Latvian skills are significantly better for those children who watch Latvian films, cartoons, and play computer games in Latvian. Parents’ motivation to teach Latvian to their children, or maintain it, is crucial and often connected with the plans of the children possible returning to Latvia. Keeping the cultural ties with Latvia and the Latvians is important as well.
Living abroad, not only children but also adults with Latvian as a second language lose their language skills rapidly. Moreover, out of all adult respondents who consider themselves Latvians only 80 % have good Latvian language skills. The research also reveals that among Latvians, especially women, inter-ethnic marriages are very common. As a result, returning to Latvia, not only ‘remigrants’ but also their spouses have to learn the language. In such situation it is important to ensure children’s integration into the Latvian school system as well as establish intensive and creative Latvian language courses for English speaking adults.
The research project “Latvian Diaspora” aggregates information about 14,068 Latvians and nationals of Latvia living abroad in 118 countries, including approximately 2,000 children of Latvian origin.
 and completed last year revealed alarming facts about the loss of native language among Latvian diaspora and rapid assimilation of diaspora children: only 27 % of them have excellent or very good, and only 21 % have good command of Latvian.){kind=link}