Lithuanian-Latvian Dictionary

electronic version of a dictionary compiled in 1995

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Reference resources (online Dictionaries/ grammar guides/phrasebooks)

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The electronic version of Lithuanian-Latvian dictionary was designed according to the already existing dictionary of Lithuanian-Latvian (Lietuviešu–latviešu vārdnīca, compilers Balkevičs J., Balode L., Bojāte A., Subatnieks V.. Rīga: Zinātne, 1995). It comprises about 60,000 words. Everybody, who is willing to grasp the key rules of the Lithuanian language, its grammar structure and pronunciation peculiarities, will be able to find the necessary information in the dictionary. It also provides some information on the exact grammar characteristics of the collected words. The search system is user-friendly, there is a virtual keyboard of the Lithuanian letters. It is very important for those who are not familiar with the Lithuanian language (and it is not for the Lithuanians who study Latvian).

The dictionary is meant for both those who know Lithuanian/Latvian and those who are not familiar with the target languages. The dictionary comprises some collocations, idioms, which allow users to identify semantic differences between the languages. Search result list displays all the records of the names, phrases, examples, where the search word was found. The user can view all the records in search results, which highlight the search word. Abbreviations in the records provide supplementary specific information, e.g., the area of use, morphology, etc. Also, access to the data portal eurotermbank.com is provided (it might be useful for higher level language learners or translators).

This resource is applicable to all CEFR levels. The marked levels indicate how many levels of Lithuanian can be achieved during one semester while studying the subject “Latvian Language”.

The Latvian-Lithuanian dictionary is used from the very beginning of the course on 'Latvian Language', and it is utilised throughout the whole semester, mainly for students’ homework assignments. It is also applicable in class activities when students are given tasks to translate texts independently, e.g. to compile dialogues related to one topic or another. It is not obligatory, however, in case students want to use an unfamiliar word they have not studied yet, they can search for the word in the dictionary. The same format of learning is applied while doing homework. It is quite often, at the beginning of the study year mainly, students’ wishes are too strong to respond the reality – it is not an easy task to use Latvian equivalents in a proper way.

The dictionary can be used for search of the meanings of unfamiliar words (for translation), as any other bilingual dictionary. The advantage of letonika.lv lies in its virtual keyboard (it has been attached quite recently). It provides the user with an opportunity to see other words in a cluster that the search word happens to fall into. Such an opportunity is extremely beneficial to advanced students (teachers as well), e.g. while teaching the subject 'Comparative Lithuanian and Latvian Linguistics', it might be helpful for the users to identify differences in semantics, and compare the grammatical categories of the words – gender, number, etc. similarities/differences.