Lithuanian Language
Lithuanian is the oldest living Indo-European language. It is used just by four million people across the world, including our closest neighbours Poles and Belarusians living on the border with Lithuania, as well as the Lithuanian community in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Australia, Latvia and Russia.
Our language belongs to the Baltic language group. Although there are three Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – only two of them speak in languages of the Baltic group, i.e. Lithuanians and Latvians.
We are very proud to have retained our language, despite the worst adversities it faced. During the times of the Lithuanian and Polish Commonwealth it was subjected to Polonization, and the Lithuanian press (in Roman script) was completely banned while under yoke of the Russian Empire. The prohibition lasted for 40 years. But we managed to preserve and maintain our language by printing our books abroad and then covertly bringing them into Lithuania and by creating an underground network of Lithuanian schools. We consider it to be a substantial victory, and we call the above-mentioned book-smuggling a historical phenomenon of the 19th century Lithuania.
As a matter of fact, our language is not easy to learn. It is believed to be the most conservative living Indo-European Language, retaining many features of Proto Indo-European now lost in other Indo-European languages (ex: German, English or French). We have numerous inflections, shifting accents, our letters often look unfamiliar to a foreigner: ą, ę, į, ų, ė, č, š, ž, ū. Still, at least in one respect the Lithuanian language is simpler than English or French: our words are almost always pronounced as they are written.
Lithuanian language courses are provided at universities, language centres and schools.
For those who cannot speak Lithuanian but wish to pursue education at comprehensive schools, equalizing classes or mobile groups are arranged.
Facts and figures:
- The Lithuanian alphabet consists of 32 letters.
- The Lithuanian language is an official language of the State.
- The Lithuanian language is one of the 23 official languages of the EU.
- The oldest known printed book in Lithuanian is Cathecismus by Martynas Mažvydas, issued in 1547 in Karaliaučius.
- There are 30 centres of lituanistic studies operating across the world. They focus on research and studies of this language.
- Since 2007, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania has been offering Kazimieras Būga scholorship for foreigners studying the Lithuanian language in foreign universities.
