Latvia Marks State Language Day with a School Experiment and a Discussion

Latvia marks State Language Day on 15 October, a observance held since 2021 to honour Latvian as the country's only official language. The events are offered by the Latvian Language Agency (LVA), which encourages people to mark the day at home, in educational institutions and in workplaces.

The date was chosen because on 15 October 1998, the constitutional value of the state language was enshrined in Article 4 of the Satversme, Latvia's constitution. It states that the official language of the Republic of Latvia is Latvian.

Experiment in schools

On State Language Day, a social experiment called "Secret Code VV" will take place in 54 educational institutions across Latvia. It invites participants to view the Latvian language from an unusual angle. The experiment will be run by 117 pupils in grades 7–12 who volunteered to carry it out.

It will begin with the phrase "Greetings on State Language Day!", followed by a short creative task. The content of the task is not being disclosed yet, so as not to disrupt the experiment. Results will be announced on 19 October.

Discussion in Ludza

At 12:30, a State Language Day discussion will be held at Ludza Secondary School. It is organised by Rēzekne Academy of Riga Technical University, together with the LVA and the Education Board of Ludza Municipality. Pupils and teachers from the secondary schools of Ludza, Zilupe and Kārsava will take part.

The discussion will be led by Sanita Martena, a professor, linguist and author, who will invite participants to consider Latvian among the world's languages. LVA project coordinator Justīne Bondare will encourage a conversation about youth language and creativity in coining new words. Questions include how to count all the world's languages and whether knowing Latvian is fashionable.

Materials for everyone

The LVA has published a presentation, "State Language Policy in Latvia", which outlines the status, development and use of Latvian in Latvia and worldwide and explains key terms. The agency also recommends the "Count the Languages!" campaign material, the quiz "Me and Article 4 of the Satversme", infographics on the language's status before and after the restoration of independence, videos and a language-skills bingo.

LVA director Inita Vītola stresses that language develops when people talk, read, write and share thoughts in it, and that Latvian is a shared value uniting different generations.