View source for Livonian language

{{Short description|Finnic language in western Latvia}}
{{Distinguish|Livvi-Karelian language|Livonian dialect}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Livonian
| nativename       = {{lang|liv|līvõ kēļ}}
| states           = [[Latvia]]
| region           = [[Livonian Coast]]
| ethnicity        = [[Livonians]]
| extinct          = 2 June 2013, with the death of [[Grizelda Kristiņa]]
| ref              = <ref name="thetimes1">{{cite news |first=David |last=Charter |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/death-of-a-language-last-ever-speaker-of-livonian-passes-away-aged-103-8k0rlplv8xj |title=Death of a language: last ever speaker of Livonian passes away aged 103 |work=[[The Times]] |date=2013-06-05 |access-date=2013-12-01}}</ref><ref>[http://tartu.postimees.ee/1269634/viimane-emakeelne-liivlane-lahkus-jaadavalt "Viimane emakeelne liivlane lahkus jäädavalt"] ''[[Postimees]]'', June 14, 2013 {{in lang|et}}</ref>
| revived          = 1 [[First language|L1 speaker]] (2022)<ref name="lsm.lv">{{cite web|title="Kūldaläpš. Zeltabērns" – izdota lībiešu valodas grāmata bērniem un vecākiem|url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vecaki-un-berni/kuldalaps-zeltaberns--izdota-libiesu-valodas-gramata-berniem-un-vecakiem.a478524/|date=2022-10-18|publisher=Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji (LSM.lv)|accessdate=2022-10-22}}</ref><br />
~40 [[L2 speakers]] at [[Common European Framework of Reference for Languages|B1]] and up<br/>~210 at A1–A2<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livones.net/valoda/?raksts=8701 |title=LĪBIEŠU VALODAS SITUĀCIJA |access-date=2012-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202235047/http://www.livones.net/valoda/?raksts=8701 |archive-date=2014-02-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| familycolor      = Uralic
| fam2             = [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]]
| fam3             = [[Finnic languages|Finnic]]
| fam4             = Southern Finnic
| dia1             = [[Courland Livonian|Courland]]
*[[Salaca Livonian|Salaca]] {{extinct}}
| minority         = [[Latvia]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endangered Language – DW – 06/17/2007 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/keeping-livonian-latvias-lesser-known-language-alive/a-2610591 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>
| iso3             = liv
| glotto           = livv1244
| glottorefname    = Liv
| map              = 2.7-Livonian.png
| mapcaption       = Medieval Livonian areas (brown). Inset shows the Livonian villages at the beginning of the 20th century.<ref name=map1>{{Cite journal |last1=Rantanen |first1=Timo |last2=Tolvanen |first2=Harri |last3=Roose |first3=Meeli |last4=Ylikoski |first4=Jussi |last5=Vesakoski |first5=Outi |date=2022-06-08 |title=Best practices for spatial language data harmonization, sharing and map creation—A case study of Uralic |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=e0269648 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0269648|doi-access=free |pmid=35675367 |pmc=9176854 |bibcode=2022PLoSO..1769648R }}</ref><ref name=map2>Rantanen, Timo, Vesakoski, Outi, Ylikoski, Jussi, & Tolvanen, Harri. (2021). ''Geographical database of the Uralic languages'' (v1.0) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4784188</ref>
| notice           = IPA
| script           = [[Livonian alphabet]]
| ancestor         = [[Proto-Uralic language|Proto-Uralic]]
| ancestor2        = [[Proto-Finnic language|Proto-Finnic]]
| ancestor3        = [[Proto-Livonian language|Proto-Livonian]]
}}

'''Livonian''' ({{langx|liv|līvõ kēļ|link=no}} or {{lang|liv|rāndakēļ}}) is a [[Finnic languages|Finnic language]] whose native land is the [[Livonian Coast]] of the [[Gulf of Riga]], located in the north of the [[Courland|Kurzeme]] peninsula in [[Latvia]] but also used to be spoken in the [[Salaca River]] valley. Although its last known native speaker died in 2013,<ref name="thetimes1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://geocurrents.info/cultural-geography/linguistic-geography/obituary-last-native-speaker-of-the-livonian-language-died-age-103 |title=Obituary: Last Native Speaker of the Livonian Language Died Age 103 |publisher=GeoCurrents |access-date=2013-12-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026031125/http://www.geocurrents.info/cultural-geography/linguistic-geography/obituary-last-native-speaker-of-the-livonian-language-died-age-103 |archive-date=October 26, 2013 }}</ref> a child, Kuldi Medne, born in 2020, is reported to be a native speaker of Livonian. Her parents are Livonian language revival activists Jānis Mednis and Renāte Medne.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-18 |title=«Kūldaläpš. Zeltabērns» – izdota lībiešu valodas grāmata bērniem un vecākiem |trans-title="Kūldaläpš. Golden Child" - Livonian book for children and parents published |url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive--stils/vecaki-un-berni/kuldalaps-zeltaberns--izdota-libiesu-valodas-gramata-berniem-un-vecakiem.a478524/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=[[Lsm.lv]] |language=lv}}</ref> Also, there are about 40 reported [[L2 speakers]] and 210 having reported some knowledge of the language. Possibly uniquely among the Uralic languages but similarly to [[Latvian language|Latvian]] and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]], Livonian has been described as a [[pitch-accent language]] (or ''restricted tone language'', see [[#Vowels|below]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://virtuallivonia.info/?page_id=134|title=Sketch of Livonian Sounds and Grammar|website=Virtual Livonia|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-22}}</ref>
 
Some ethnic Livonians are learning or have learned Livonian [[Livonian language revival|in an attempt to revive it]], but because ethnic Livonians are a small minority, opportunities to use Livonian are limited. The Estonian newspaper {{Lang|et|[[Eesti Päevaleht]]}} erroneously announced that [[Viktors Bertholds]], who died on 28 February 2009, was the last native speaker who started Latvian-language school as a monolingual.<ref>{{in lang|et}} [http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/460898 ''Eesti Päevaleht''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720125510/http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/460898 |date=2011-07-20 }} "{{lang|lv|Suri viimane vanema põlve emakeelne liivlane}}" ("The last native speaker of Livonian from the older generation has died"), March 4, 2009.</ref> Some other Livonians had argued, however, that there were some [[native speaker]]s left,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_news/?doc=3215 |title=Latvia's tiny Livonian minority struggles to keep its language alive &#124; Baltic States news & analytics |publisher=The Baltic Course |date=2012-10-17 |access-date=2013-12-01}}</ref> including Viktors Bertholds' cousin, [[Grizelda Kristiņa]], who died in 2013.<ref name="thetimes1"/> An article published by the [[Foundation for Endangered Languages]] in 2007 stated that there were only 182 registered Livonians and a mere six native speakers. In a 2009 conference proceeding, it was mentioned that there could be "at best 10 living native" speakers of the language.<ref>{{cite conference
 |url=http://pi.library.yorku.ca/dspace/bitstream/handle/10315/3615/icos23_105.pdf?sequence=1
 |title=Personal Names of Livonian Origin in Latvia: Past and Present |first=Pauls |last=Balodis
 |date=August 2009 |conference=23rd International Congress of Onomastic Sciences |format=PDF
 |conference-url=http://pi.library.yorku.ca/dspace/handle/10315/2901
 |editor=Wolfgang Ahrens |editor2=Sheila Embleton |editor3=André Lapierre|isbn=978-1-55014-521-2
 |book-title=Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress of Onomastic Sciences
 |publisher=[[York University]] |location=Toronto, Canada |pages=105–116 |access-date=23 April 2011 }}</ref>

The promotion of the Livonian language as a living language has been advanced mostly by the Livonian Cultural Centre ({{lang|liv|Līvõ Kultūr Sidām}}), an organisation of mostly young Livonians. Livonian as a [[lesser used language]] in Latvia – along with [[Latgalian language|Latgalian]] – is represented by the Latvian Bureau of Lesser Used Languages (LatBLUL), formerly a national branch of the [[EBLUL|European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages]] (EBLUL).

The language is taught in universities in Latvia, Estonia, [[Finland]] and Sweden, which constantly increases the pool of people with some knowledge of the language who do not permanently reside in Latvia.

== History ==
In the 19th century, about 2,000 people still spoke Livonian; in 1852, the number of Livonians was 2,394.<ref>{{harv|Ariste|1981|loc=p. 78}}</ref> Various historical events have led to the near total [[language death]] of Livonian:
* In the 13th century, speakers of Livonian numbered 30,000.<ref>{{harv|Schätzung Vääri|1966}}</ref>
* The German invasion: around the year 1200, the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] and the [[Teutonic knights]] conquered [[Livonia]], leading to contention of rule of the area between these orders and the [[Archbishopric of Riga]].
* 1522: The introduction of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. 
* 1557: The Russian invasion, also known as the [[Russo-Swedish War (1554–57)|Russo-Swedish War.]]
* 1558–1583: [[Livonian War]]. Russians, Swedes, Danes, Lithuanians and Poles fought over the area.
* 1721: The [[Treaty of Nystad]]. Northern Livonia became provinces of [[Russian Empire|Tsarist Russia]].
* 1918: The founding of Latvia; the Livonian language re-blossomed.
* [[World War II]] and [[Soviet Union]]: marginalisation of Livonian.
* Declared extinct on 6 June 2013.
*[[Livonian language revival#Revival|Revival of the Livonian language]] started after the last native speaker died.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deepbaltic.com/2019/07/15/twenty-speakers-but-three-poets-writing-in-livonian/|title=Twenty Speakers, but Three Poets: Writing in Livonian|date=15 July 2019}}</ref>

In the 13th century, the native Livonians inhabited all the areas around the Gulf of Riga, except for the Estonian island of Saaremaa.<ref>{{harv|Moseley|2002|loc=p. 5}}</ref> In the 12th–13th centuries the Livonian lands were conquered by the [[Teutonic Order]]. The conquest led to a strong decrease in the number of speakers of the Livonian language, empty Livonian lands inhabited by the Latvians, which contributed to the replacement of the Livonian language in favor of Latvian.<ref>{{cite news|first=P.A.|last=Ariste|title=Известия АН Латвийской ССР: Ливы и ливский язык|year=1958|number=11|page=32}}</ref> It is estimated that at the time of the German colonization, there were 30,000 Livonians.<ref>{{Cite book|last=de Sivers|first=F.|title=Parlons live: une langue de la Baltique|place=Paris; Budapest; Torino|publisher=L'Harmattan|year=2001|pages=16|isbn=2-7475-1337-8}}</ref> In the 19th century the number of speakers of the Couronian dialect is estimated as follows: 2,074 people in 1835, 2,324 people in 1852, 2,390 people in 1858, 2,929 people in 1888.<ref>{{harv|Moseley|2002|loc=p. 6}}</ref> According to the [[Soviet Census (1989)|Soviet Census of 1989]], 226 people were Livonian, and almost half of them spoke Livonian.<ref>{{cite book|last=Viitso|first= Т.-Р.|title=Ливский язык: Языки мира. Уральские языки|place=Moscow|publisher=Наука|year=1993|pages=76–77|isbn=5-02-011069-8}}</ref> According to estimates of the Liv Culture Center in 2010, only 40 people spoke Livonian in everyday life. In 2013, there was no one who spoke Livonian in everyday life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livones.net/44atbildes/?raksts=8680|title=Lībiešu valoda|date=2011-11-11|publisher=livones.net|language=lv|access-date=2014-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222195941/http://www.livones.net/44atbildes/?raksts=8680|archive-date=2014-12-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Early literature===
The first Livonian words were recorded in the [[Livonian Chronicle of Henry]].<ref>{{harv|Schätzung Vääri|1966|loc=p. 139}}</ref> The first written sources about Livonian appeared in the 16th century. The collection of [[Livonian people|Livonian]] poems "Mariners sacred songs and prayers" ({{langx|lv|Jūrnieku svētās dziesmas un lūgšanas|link=no}}) was translated to [[Latvian language|Latvian]] by Jānis Prints and his son Jānis Jr. and was published in 1845.<ref>Juhrneeku svehtas dseesmas un luhgschanas, sadomahtas no zitkahrtiga Pises basnizas ķestera Jahņa Prinz, un viņņa vezzaka dehla Jahņa. Jelgavā pee Jahņa Wridriķķa Steffenhagen un dehla. 1845</ref><ref>Latvian encyclopedia . Volume 4. Riga: Valery Belokon's Publishing. 2007 p. 832-833 {{ISBN|978-9984-9482-4-9}}.</ref> The first book in Livonian was the [[Gospel of Matthew]], published in 1863 in London in both the eastern and western Courland dialects.<ref name="Laanest 1975 loc=p. 21">{{harv|Laanest|1975|loc=p. 21}}</ref> It was translated into eastern Curonian by Nick Pollmann and into western Curonian by Jānis Prints and Peteris. The plan with the book was to establish a standard orthography by F. Wiedemann, which consisted of 36 letters with many diacritics. The total circulation was 250 copies.<ref name="Moseley 2002 loc=p. 8">{{harv|Moseley|2002|loc=p. 8}}</ref> The Livonians received only one copy of each dialect.<ref>{{harv|Uralica|loc=p. 14}}</ref> The second book in Livonian was the same [[Gospel of Matthew]], published in 1880 in [[St. Petersburg]], with an orthography based on Latvian and [[German language|German]].<ref name="Moseley 2002 loc=p. 8"/><ref>{{harv|Uralica|loc=p. 15}}</ref>

In the [[interwar period]], there were several dozen books published in Livonian, mainly with the help of Finnish and Estonian organizations.<ref name="Laanest 1975 loc=p. 21"/> In 1930, the first newspaper in Livonian, "{{lang|liv|Līvli}}", was published. In 1942, a translation of the [[New Testament]] was published in [[Helsinki]]. It was translated by [[Kōrli Stalte]], with help from the Finnish linguist Lauri Kettunen.<ref>{{harv|Moseley|2002|loc=p. 11}}</ref> After [[World War II|WWII]], books in Livonian were no longer published,<ref>{{harv|Schätzung Vääri|1966|loc=p. 138}}</ref> as [[Latvian SSR|Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union]]. The whole area of the Livonian Coast became a restricted border zone under tight Soviet supervision. Coastal fishing was gradually eliminated in the smaller villages and concentrated in the larger population centres of [[Kolka, Latvia|Kolka]], [[Roja, Latvia|Roja]], and [[Ventspils]]. Limits were placed on freedom of movement for inhabitants. All of these factors contributed to the decline of the language, although some initiatives appeared from the early 1970s onwards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Livones.net – The Livonians during the Soviet period|url=http://www.livones.net/en/vesture/the-livonians-during-the-soviet-period|access-date=2022-01-05|website=www.livones.net|language=en}}</ref>

After Latvia regained its independence, the newsletter "{{lang|liv|Õvā}}" was published in Livonian in 1994, dedicated to the Livonian culture, art, and figures of the national movement, and in 1998 with the support of the "Open Society," the first collection of poetry in Livonian, "{{lang|liv|Ma akūb sīnda vizzõ, tūrska!}}", was published and presented in Finland and Estonia. It combines the works of famous Livonian poets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livones.net/44atbildes/?raksts=8678|title=Lībiešu literatūra|quote=Tā ir 1998. gadā Rīgā iznākusī lībiešu dzejas antoloģija „Es viltīgāks par tevi, menca”, kurā apkopoti visu zināmāko lībiešu dzejnieku – pavisam 24 – darbi.|date=2011-12-12|publisher=livones.net|language=lv|access-date=2014-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227180858/http://www.livones.net/44atbildes/?raksts=8678|archive-date=2014-12-27|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=d>{{cite web|url=http://www.delfi.lv/kultura/news/books/kulturas-centra-noass-notiks-libiesu-valodas-dienas-svinesana.d?id=17898433|title=Kultūras centrā 'Noass' notiks Lībiešu valodas dienas svinēšana|date=2007-05-17|publisher=www.DELFI.lv|language=lv|access-date=2014-12-27}}</ref> To date, the only Livonian media outlet is the trilingual (English-Latvian-Livonian) [http://www.livones.net Livones.lv (livones.net)] operated by the Liv Culture Center.<ref name=d /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.d-pils.lv/news/2/423880|script-title=ru:Латыши без ливов — как суп без соли: настоящий лив живет в… Канаде|date=2011-03-09|publisher=D-PiLS.LV. Информационно-развлекательный портал Даугавпилса|language=ru|access-date=2014-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227142841/http://www.d-pils.lv/news/2/423880|archive-date=2014-12-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Two sites were included in the [[Atlas Linguarum Europae]] to study Livonian: [[Miķeļtornis]] and [[Mazirbe]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Eder|first=Birgit|year=2003|title=Ausgewählte Verwandtschaftsbezeichnungen in den Sprachen Europas|publisher=Peter Lang|location=Frankfurt am Main |page=307|isbn=3631528736}}</ref>

===Speakers of Livonian in the twenty-first century===
[[Image:Norādes Kolkasragā.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Trilingual signposts in [[Latvian language|Latvian]], Livonian and [[English language|English]] at the [[Livonian Coast]]]]
[[Image:Julgi Stalte.jpg|200px|right|thumb|[[Julgī Stalte]] performing with the Livonian-Estonian [[world music]] group {{lang|liv|[[Tuļļi Lum]]|italic=no}} in 2009]]
[[Viktors Bertholds]] (10 July 1921 – 28 February 2009),<ref>[http://www.lfk.lv/Suvcane-Bertholds.jpg Picture of V. Bertholds] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222232245/http://www.lfk.lv/Suvcane-Bertholds.jpg |date=2012-02-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://site.voila.fr/tangyra/eng.html|title=The last Livonian is dead|last=Laakso|first=Johanna|work=Tangyra|access-date=2009-06-09|archive-date=2009-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415075152/http://site.voila.fr/tangyra/eng.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> one of the last Livonian speakers of the generation who learnt Livonian as a first language in a Livonian-speaking family and community, died on 28 February 2009. Though it was reported that he was the last native speaker of the language, Livonians themselves claimed that there were more native speakers still alive, albeit very few.<ref>[http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_news/?doc=3215 "Latvia's tiny Livonian minority struggles to keep its language alive"], ''Baltic Course'', 6 June 2013 (retrieved 6 June 2013)</ref>

As reported in the Estonian newspaper {{Lang|et|[[Eesti Päevaleht]]}},<ref>{{in lang|et}} [http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/460898 ''Eesti Päevaleht''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720125510/http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/460898 |date=2011-07-20 }} "Suri viimane vanema põlve emakeelne liivlane″ ("The last native speaker of Livonian from the older generation has died"), March 4, 2009.</ref> Viktors Bertholds was born in 1921 and probably belonged to the last generation of children who started their (Latvian-medium) primary school as Livonian monolinguals; only a few years later it was noted that Livonian parents had begun to speak Latvian with their children. During World War II, Bertholds, unlike most Livonian men, managed to avoid being mobilized in the armies of either occupation force [[Forest brothers|by hiding in the woods]]. After the war, Bertholds worked in various professions and shared his knowledge of the Livonian language with many field linguists; in the 1990s, he also taught Livonian in children's summer camps.

Bertholds' Livonian-speaking brother and wife died in the 1990s. In the early 2000s, many other prominent "last Livonians" also died, such as Poulin Klavin (1918–2001), keeper of many Livonian traditions and the last Livonian to reside permanently on the Courland coast, and Edgar Vaalgamaa (1912–2003), clergyman in Finland, translator of the New Testament and author of a book on the history and culture of the Livonians.<ref>''Valkoisen hiekan kansa'', Jyväskylä 2001</ref><ref>[http://www.hs.fi/muistot/a1364354824709 Edgar Vaalgamaa – Muistokirjoitus – Muistot], [[Helsingin Sanomat|hs.fi]], Retrieved 2 March 2015.</ref>

The last native speaker of Livonian was [[Grizelda Kristiņa]], née Bertholde (1910–2013, a cousin of Viktors Bertholds), who lived in [[Canada]] from 1949.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finugor.ru/en/node/13126 |title=Maailma viimane emakeelne liivlane sai 100-aastaseks |author=Tapio Mäkeläinen |publisher=FennoUgria |date=2010-03-19 |access-date=2011-04-01}}</ref> According to linguist and activist Valts Ernštreits, she spoke Livonian as well "as if she had stepped out of her home farm in a Livonian coastal village just yesterday" and qualified as the last living native speaker of the Livonian language of her generation. She died on June 2, 2013.<ref>Raimu Hanson. [http://www.tartupostimees.ee/663344/teadusdoktor-kaib-mooda-liivi-radu/ Teadusdoktor käib mööda liivi radu]. ''[[Postimees]]'', 09.12.2011. (Accessed December 9, 2011.)</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=David Charter |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/death-of-a-language-last-ever-speaker-of-livonian-passes-away-aged-103-8k0rlplv8xj |title=Death of a language: last ever speaker of Livonian passes away aged 103 |work=[[The Times]] |date=2013-06-05 |access-date=2013-12-01}}</ref>

The survival of the Livonian language now depends on young Livonians who learnt Livonian in their childhood from grandparents or great-grandparents of the pre-war generations. There are not many of them, though there are a few hundred ethnic Livonians in Latvia now who are interested in their Livonian roots. Some young Livonians not only sing folk-songs in Livonian but even strive to use Livonian actively in everyday communication. One such younger generation Livonian speaker is {{Interlanguage link|Julgī Stalte|lv|Julgī Stalte|et|Julgī Stalte}}, who performs with the Livonian-Estonian [[world music]] group {{lang|liv|[[Tuļļi Lum]]|italic=no}}.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jakobs |first=Hubert |url=http://www.ce-review.org/00/27/jakobs27.html |title=Defender of a Small Nation |date=July 10, 2000 |publisher=[[Central Europe Review]] |access-date=February 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210031/http://www.ce-review.org/00/27/jakobs27.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> In 2018, the '''Livonian Institute''' at the [[University of Latvia]] ({{Langx|liv|Lețmō Iļīzskūol Līvõd institūt|link=no}}) was established to promote research and awareness of the language. It is led by Valts Ernštreits.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Livones.net|url=http://www.livones.net/lili/en|access-date=2022-01-05|website=www.livones.net|language=en}}</ref>

In 2020 Livonian language revival activists Jānis Mednis and Renāte Medne started teaching Livonian as the first language to their newborn daughter Kuldi Medne. As of 2023 she was the only Livonian native speaker in Latvia. In October 2022, her parents published {{lang|liv|Kūldaläpš}} {{lang|lv|Zeltabērns}} ('Golden Child'), a book in Livonian and Latvian for children and parents, with plans for subsequent books and an audio version.<ref name=":0" /> 

2023 was proclaimed as Livonian Heritage Year ({{Langx|liv|Līvõd pierāndõks āigast|link=no}}) by the UoL Livonian Institute in cooperation with the [[UNESCO]] Latvian National Commission and the Latvian National Cultural Center, with various events held by individuals and institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-08 |title=2023 will be year of Livonian cultural heritage |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/culture/2023-will-be-year-of-livonian-cultural-heritage.a486079/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=eng.[[lsm.lv]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Livonian Heritage Year - Lībiešu gads |url=https://libiesugads.lv/?en |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=libiesugads.lv}}</ref> In January 2023, the first of 171 approved [[road signs in Latvia]] with Latvian and Livonian text were placed on the border of [[Talsi Municipality]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Re:voice - The First Livonian Language Road Sign Unveiled in Latvia |url=https://revoice.falmouth.ac.uk/2023/03/01/for-the-first-time-in-latvia-the-first-road-sign-in-livonian-language/?c=008c2e |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=revoice.falmouth.ac.uk}}</ref> Similar signs are being placed in Latgale featuring [[Latgalian language|Latgalian]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ozola-Balode |first=Zanda |date=2023-01-27 |title=Talsu novada nosaukums tagad arī lībiešu valodā; šādi uzraksti būs vismaz 14 piekrastes ciemos |trans-title=The sign of the name of Talsi Municipality now also in Livonian; similar signs will be placed in 44 Livonian Coast villages |url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/talsu-novada-nosaukums-tagad-ari-libiesu-valoda-sadi-uzraksti-bus-vismaz-14-piekrastes-ciemos.a493676/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=[[Lsm.lv]] |language=lv}}</ref> During the 2023 [[Latvian Song and Dance Festival]], for the first time in the history of the event, a song with Livonian lyrics was featured. {{lang|lv|Lībieši nāk}} (Latvian: 'Livonians are coming'), the second part of the musical cycle {{lang|lv|Nācēji}} by {{Ill|Inese Zandere|lv}} and {{Ill|Valts Pūce|lv}} was performed during the Grand Choir Concert {{lang|lv|Tīrums. Dziesmas ceļš}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-07 |title=«Līvõdõn ja līvõ kīelõn istōrilizt Loul ja daņtš pivād – kūord sūrkontsert "Tīrums. Dziesmas ceļš" ... - LI Līvõd institūt {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=732580838669820&set=a.514961363765103 |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

==Phonology==
Livonian, like [[Estonian language|Estonian]], has lost [[vowel harmony]], but unlike Estonian, it has also lost [[consonant gradation]].<ref>{{harv|Laanest|1975|p=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Tsypanov|first= Е. А.|url=http://www.finnougoria.ru/pdf%20izdania/sravnitelnyi%20obzor1.pdf |title=Сравнительный обзор финно-угорских языков|place=Syktyvkar|publisher=Kola|year=2008|page=191}}</ref>

===Vowels===
Livonian has 8 [[vowels]] in the table below{{Clarify|reason=The table shows ten vowel phonemes if those in parentheses are not counted|date=March 2024}}. Additionally two archaic vowels are given in parentheses:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Vowel phonemes in Livonian
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" | [[Front vowel|Front]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Central vowel|Central]]
! colspan="2" | [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
! <small>unrounded</small>
! <small>rounded</small>
! <small>unrounded</small>
! <small>rounded</small>
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPAlink|i}} {{grapheme|i}}
| ({{IPAlink|y}} {{grapheme|y}}){{efn|name=round front|{{IPA|/y/}} and {{IPA|/œ/}} were present in earlier generations but merged with other vowels in later generations; these were present dialectally as late as 1997}}
| {{IPAlink|ɨ}}{{efn|Back versus central articulation is not significant for non-front unrounded vowels, so ''õ'' and ''ȯ'' can also be marked as central ({{IPA|[ɨ~ɯ]}} and {{IPA|[ɤ~ɘ]}}, respectively).}}
| {{IPAlink|ɯ}} {{grapheme|õ}}
| {{IPAlink|u}} {{grapheme|u}}
|-
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPAlink|ɛ}}~{{IPAlink|e}} {{grapheme|e}}{{efn|''e'' may either be pronounced as {{IPA|[ɛ]}} or {{IPA|[e̞]}}.}}
| ({{IPAlink|œ}} {{grapheme|ö}}){{efn|name=round front}}
| {{IPAlink|ə}}{{efn|Unstressed ''ȯ'' {{IPA|/ɤ/}} is realized as {{IPA|[ə]}}.}}
| {{IPAlink|ɤ}} {{grapheme|ȯ}}
| {{IPAlink|o}} {{grapheme|o}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
| {{IPAlink|æ}} {{grapheme|ä}}
|
|
| {{IPAlink|ɑ}} {{grapheme|a}}
|
|}
{{notelist}}

All vowels can be [[Vowel length|long or short]]. Short vowels are written as indicated in the table; long vowels are written with an additional [[Macron (diacritic)|macron]] ("ˉ") over the letter, so, for example, {{IPA|[oː]}} = {{lang|liv|ō}}. The Livonian vowel system is notable for having a ''[[stød]]'' similar to Danish. As in other languages with this feature, it is thought to be a vestige of an earlier [[Pitch-accent language|pitch accent]].

Livonian has also a large number of [[diphthong]]s, as well as a number of [[triphthong]]s. These can also occur as short or long.

The two opening diphthongs {{IPA|/ie/}} and {{IPA|/uo/}} vary in their stress placement depending on length: short {{lang|liv|ie}}, {{lang|liv|uo}} are realized as rising {{IPA|[i̯e]}}, {{IPA|[u̯o]}}, while long {{lang|liv|īe}}, {{lang|liv|ūo}} are realized as falling {{IPA|[iˑe̯]}}, {{IPA|[uˑo̯]}}. The same applies to the triphthongs {{lang|liv|uoi}} : {{lang|liv|ūoi}}.<ref>{{cite book|first=Lauri|last=Posti|chapter=Alustava ehdotus liivin yksinkertaistetuksi transkriptioksi|title=FU-transkription yksinkertaistaminen|year=1973|series=Castrenianumin toimitteita|volume=7|isbn=951-45-0282-5}}</ref>

===Consonants===
Livonian has 23 [[consonants]]:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan="2"|
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
| {{IPAlink|m}} {{grapheme|m}}
| {{IPAlink|n}} {{grapheme|n}}
| {{IPAlink|ɲ}} {{grapheme|ņ}}
| ({{IPAlink|ŋ}}){{efn|{{IPA|/n/}} becomes {{IPA|[ŋ]}} preceding {{IPA|/k/}} or {{IPA|/ɡ/}}.}}
|
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[Plosive]]
! <small>voiceless</small>
| {{IPAlink|p}} {{grapheme|p}}
| {{IPAlink|t̪}} {{grapheme|t}}
| {{IPAlink|c}} {{grapheme|ț}}
| {{IPAlink|k}} {{grapheme|k}}
|
|-
! <small>voiced</small>
| {{IPAlink|b}} {{grapheme|b}}
| {{IPAlink|d̪}} {{grapheme|d}}
| {{IPAlink|ɟ}} {{grapheme|ḑ}}
| {{IPAlink|ɡ}} {{grapheme|g}}
|
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[Fricative]]
! <small>voiceless</small>
| ({{IPAlink|f}} {{grapheme|f}})
| {{IPAlink|s}} {{grapheme|s}}
| {{IPAlink|ʃ}} {{grapheme|š}}
|
| ({{IPAlink|h}} {{grapheme|h}})
|-
! <small>voiced</small>
| {{IPAlink|v}} {{grapheme|v}}
| {{IPAlink|z}} {{grapheme|z}}
| {{IPAlink|ʒ}} {{grapheme|ž}}
|
|
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
| {{IPAlink|r}} {{grapheme|r}}
| {{IPAlink|rʲ}} {{grapheme|ŗ}}
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[Approximant]]
! <small>central</small>
|
|
| {{IPAlink|j}} {{grapheme|j}}
|
|
|-
! <small>lateral</small>
|
| {{IPAlink|l}} {{grapheme|l}}
| {{IPAlink|ʎ}} {{grapheme|ļ}}
|
|
|}
{{notelist}}

{{IPA|/f h/}} are restricted to loans, except for some interjections containing {{IPA|/h/}}. Voiced obstruents are subject to being either [[final-obstruent devoicing|devoiced]] or half-voiced in the word-final position, or before another unvoiced consonants ({{lang|liv|kuolmõz}} {{IPA|/ˈku̯olməs ~ ˈku̯olməz̥/}} "third").<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tuisk|first=Tuuli|date=2016|title=Main features of the Livonian sound system and pronunciation|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308133994|journal=Eesti ja Soome-Ugri Keeleteaduse Ajakiri|volume=7|issue=1|pages=121–143|doi=10.12697/jeful.2016.7.1.06|access-date=March 13, 2022|doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Alphabet ==
The Livonian [[alphabet]] is a hybrid which mixes Latvian and Estonian orthography.

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 70em; text-align: center;"
|-
! colspan="43" style="background: #eaaff3; font-weight: normal;" | '''[[Capital letters|Majuscule forms]]''' (also called '''uppercase''' or '''capital letters''')
|-
| [[A]] || [[Ā]] || [[Ä]] || [[Ǟ]] || [[B]] || [[D]] || [[D-comma|D&#x0326;]] || [[E]] || [[Ē]] || [[F]] || [[G]] || [[H]] || [[I]] || [[Ī]] || [[J]] || [[K]] || [[L]] || [[Ļ]] || [[M]] || [[N]] || [[Ņ]] || [[O]] || [[Ō]] || [[Ȯ]] || [[Ȱ]] || [[Ö]]* || [[Ȫ]]* || [[Õ]] || [[Ȭ]] || [[P]] || [[R]] || [[Ŗ]] || [[S]] || [[Š]] || [[T]] || [[Ț]]** || [[U]] || [[Ū]] || [[V]] || [[Y]]* || [[Ȳ]]* || [[Z]] || [[Ž]]
|-
! colspan="43" style="background: #e7f4ff; font-weight: normal;" | '''[[Lower case|Minuscule forms]]''' (also called '''lowercase''' or '''small letters''')
|-
| [[a]] || [[ā]] || [[ä]] || [[ǟ]] || [[b]] || [[d]] || [[D-comma|d&#x0326;]] || [[e]] || [[ē]] || [[f]] || [[g]] || [[h]] || [[i]] || [[ī]] || [[j]] || [[k]] || [[l]] || [[ļ]] || [[m]] || [[n]] || [[ņ]] || [[o]] || [[ō]] || [[ȯ]] || [[ȱ]] || [[ö]]* || [[ȫ]]* || [[õ]] || [[ȭ]] || [[p]] || [[r]] || [[ŗ]] || [[s]] || [[š]] || [[t]] || [[ț]]** || [[u]] || [[ū]] || [[v]] || [[y]]* || [[ȳ]]* || [[z]] || [[ž]]
|-
! colspan="43" style="background: #ffffff; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;" | <small>* denotes letters that were used for phonemes that were unrounded in later generations; these were retired when a song book was published in 1980 with new rules,<ref>[https://www.kirj.ee/public/Linguistica_Uralica/2007/issue_1/ling-2007-1-2.pdf Livonian Orthography.]</ref> but sometimes used as late as 1997.<br /><!--
-->** some texts may use [[cedilla]] instead of comma due to technical limitations, similar to the issue with [[Romanian alphabet|Romanian]] typography.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evertype.com/alphabets/livonian.pdf |title=Livonian |accessdate=2015-06-01 |last=Everson |first=Michael |date=2001-11-12 |work=The Alphabets of Europe}}</ref></small>
|}

==Grammar==
{{Main|Livonian grammar}}

==Language contacts with Latvians and Estonians==
Livonian has for centuries been thoroughly influenced by [[Latvian language|Latvian]] in terms of grammar, phonology and word derivation etc. The [[dative case]] in Livonian, for example, is very unusual for a Finnic language.<ref>Gyula Décsy: ''Einführung in die finnisch-ugrische Sprachwissenschaft'', page 81. Wiesbaden 1965</ref> There are about 2,000 Latvian and 200 [[Low German|Low Saxon]] and [[German language|German]] loanwords in Livonian and most of the [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] loanwords were adopted through Latvian.<ref>Gyula Décsy: ''Einführung in die finnisch-ugrische Sprachwissenschaft'', page 82. Wiesbaden 1965</ref> Latvian, however, was influenced by Livonian as well. Its regular syllable stress, which is based on Livonian, is very unusual in a Baltic language. Especially as of the end of the nineteenth century there was a great deal of contact with Estonians, namely between ([[Courland|Kurzeme]]) Livonian fishers or mariners and the Estonians from [[Saaremaa]] or other islands. Many inhabitants of the islands of Western Estonia worked in the summer in Kurzeme Livonian villages. As a result, a knowledge of [[Estonian language|Estonian]] spread among those Livonians and words of Estonian origin also came into Livonian.<ref>{{harv|Ariste|1981|loc=p. 79}}</ref> There are about 800 Estonian loanwords in Livonian, most of which were borrowed from the Saaremaa dialect.<ref>Gyula Décsy: ''Einführung in die finnisch-ugrische Sprachwissenschaft'', page 83. Wiesbaden 1965</ref>

==Common phrases==
* Hello! – '''{{lang|liv|Tēriņtš!}}'''
* Enjoy your meal! – '''{{lang|liv|Jõvvõ sīemnaigõ!}}'''
* Good morning! – '''{{lang|liv|Jõvā ūomõg!}}'''/'''{{lang|liv|Jõvvõ ūomõgt!}}'''
* Good day! – '''{{lang|liv|Jõvā pǟva!}}'''/'''{{lang|liv|Jõvvõ päuvõ!}}'''
* Good night! – '''{{lang|liv|Jõvvõ īedõ!}}'''
* Thank you! – '''{{lang|liv|Tienū!}}'''
* You're welcome! – '''{{lang|liv|Vȯl tēriņtš!}}''' (singular, formal) or '''{{lang|liv|Vȯlgid tēriņtõd!}}''' (plural, formal)/'''{{lang|liv|Võtāgid jõvāks!}}''' (informal) or '''{{lang|liv|Äb iļ mis!}}''' (informal, literal meaning of "No problem")
* Happy new year! – '''{{lang|liv|Vȯndzist ūdāigastõ!}}'''
* one – '''{{lang|liv|ikš}}'''
* two – '''{{lang|liv|kakš}}'''
* three – '''{{lang|liv|kuolm}}'''
* four – '''{{lang|liv|nēļa}}'''
* five – '''{{lang|liv|vīž}}'''
* six – '''{{lang|liv|kūž}}'''
* seven – '''{{lang|liv|seis}}'''
* eight – '''{{lang|liv|kōdõks}}'''
* nine – '''{{lang|liv|īdõks}}'''
* ten – '''{{lang|liv|kim}}'''
* eleven - '''{{lang|liv|ikštuoistõn}}'''
* twelve - '''{{lang|liv|kakštuoistõn}}'''
* thirteen - '''{{lang|liv|kuolmtuoistõn}}'''
* fourteen - '''{{lang|liv|nēļatuoistõn}}'''
* fifteen - '''{{lang|liv|vīžtuoistõn}}'''
* sixteen - '''{{lang|liv|kūžtuoistõn}}'''
* seventeen - '''{{lang|liv|seistuoistõn}}'''
* eighteen - '''{{lang|liv|kōdõkstuoistõn}}'''
* nineteen - '''{{lang|liv|īdõkstuoistõn}}'''
* twenty - '''{{lang|liv|kakškimdõ}}'''

== Revitalization ==
* See also [[Revival of the Livonian language]].
The Livonian language once spoken on about a third of modern-day Latvian territory,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6ig3YQ5Z64|title=Lecture by Valts Ernštreits "Chasing the heritage of Livonians - Latvia's indigenous people"|date=6 October 2020 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> lost the last native speaker [[Grizelda Kristiņa]] on 2 June 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/death-of-a-language-last-ever-speaker-of-livonian-passes-away-aged-103-8k0rlplv8xj |title=Death of a language: last ever speaker of Livonian passes away aged 103 |first=David |last=Charter |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref> But the language is not dead e has new speakers. Today there are about 210 people mainly living in Latvia who identify themselves as Livonian and speak the language on the A1-A2 level according to the [[Common European Framework of Reference for Languages]] and between 20 and 40 people who speak the language on level B1 and up.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livones.net/valoda/?raksts=8701 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202235047/http://www.livones.net/valoda/?raksts=8701 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |title=livones.net |date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> Today all speakers learn Livonian as a second language. There are different programs educating Latvians on the cultural and linguistic heritage of Livonians and the fact that most Latvians have common Livonian descent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cWpvhdfdY |title=Lībiešu tradicionālā kultūra Latvijas kultūras kanonā. Stāsta Valts Ernštreits. |date=23 October 2019 |trans-title=Livonian traditional culture in the cultural canon of Latvia. Narrated by Walt Ernstreit. |language=lv |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
Programs worth mentioning include:
* Livones.net<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livones.net/en |title=Livones.net |website=www.livones.net}}</ref> with extensive information about language, history and culture
* The Livonian Institute of the University of Latvia<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livones.net/lili/en |title=Livones.net |website=www.livones.net|date=20 November 2022 }}</ref> doing research on the Livonian language, other Finnic languages in Latvia and providing an extensive Livonian-Latvian-Estonian dictionary with declinations/conjugations<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livones.net/lili/en/vardnica/ |title=Livones.net |website=www.livones.net}}</ref>
* Virtual Livonia<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://virtuallivonia.info/ |title=Virtual Livonia ∙ Līvõmō Internets ∙ Līvzeme Internetā |website=Virtual Livonia}}</ref> providing information on the Livonian language and especially its grammar
* {{lang|liv|Mierlinkizt}}:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livones.net/lv/norises/2020/libiesu-vasaras-skola-mierlinkizt |title=Livones.net - Lībiešu vasaras skola "Mierlinkizt" |trans-title=Livonian summer school "Mierlinkizt" |language=lv |website=www.livones.net}}</ref> An annual summer camp for children to teach children about the Livonian language, culture etc.
* {{lang|liv|Līvõd Īt}} (Livonian Union)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.livones.net/en/cilveki/organizacijas/livod-it-livonian-union |title=Livones.net - Līvõd Īt (Livonian Union) |website=www.livones.net}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Revival of the Livonian language]]
* {{lang|liv|[[Min izāmō]]}}&nbsp;– the [[national anthem]] of the Livonians
* {{lang|liv|[[Tuļļi Lum]]}} – Livonian-Estonian world music group

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}


===Bibliography===

* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Ariste|1981}}|reference=[[Paul Ariste|Ariste, Paul]] (1981). ''Keelekontaktid''. Tallinn: Valgus. [pt. 2.6. ''Kolme läänemere keele hääbumine'' lk. 76 – 82] {{in lang|et}}}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Uralica}}|reference={{cite journal|author=Ernštreits, V.|title=Livonian Orthography|journal=Linguistica Uralica |url=http://www.kirj.ee/public/Linguistica_Uralica/2007/issue_1/ling-2007-1-2.pdf|year=2007|volume=43|number=1|doi=10.3176/lu.2007.1.02|s2cid=245508379|issn=0868-4731}}}}
* Kettunen, Lauri (1938). ''Livisches Wörterbuch: mit grammatischer Einleitung''. Helsinki: Finno-Ugrian Society. {{in lang|de}}
* {{wikicite|reference={{cite book |title=Basics Finno-Ugric Linguistics (Finnic, Sami and Mordovia languages).|last=Laanest|first=A.|place=Moscow|publisher=Science|year=1975}}}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Moseley|2002}}|reference=Moseley, Christopher (2002). ''Livonian''. München: LINCOM EUROPA (English)}}
* de Sivers, Fanny (2001). [http://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=livre&no=9908 ''Parlons live – Une langue de la Baltique'']. Paris: L'Harmattan. {{ISBN|2-7475-1337-8}}. {{in lang|fr}}
* {{cite book |title=View of the Russian Empire During the Reign of Catharine the Second, and to the Close of the Present Century. |last=Tooke |first=William |author-link=William Tooke|year=1799 |publisher=T. N. Longman, O. Rees, and J. Debrett|location= London |pages= [https://archive.org/details/viewofrussianemp01tookuoft/page/523 523]–527 |url=https://archive.org/details/viewofrussianemp01tookuoft}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Schätzung Vääri|1966}}|reference={{cite book|last=Vääri|first=E.E.|title=Ливский язык: Языки народов СССР: Финно-угорские и самодийские языки|place=Moscow|publisher=Nauka|year=1966|pages=139}}}}

== Further reading ==
* {{ill|Valts Ernštreits|lv|Valts Ernštreits}}. "Development, Research and Sources of Written Livonian". In: ''Linguistica Uralica'' 48, nr. 1 (2012). pp. 55-67. DOI: 10.3176/lu.2012.1.05.
* {{ill|Riho Grünthal|fi|Riho Grünthal}}. "Livonian at the crossroads of language contacts". In: Santeri Junttila (ed.). ''[https://journal.fi/uralicahelsingiensia/issue/view/uh7 Contacts between the Baltic and Finnic languages]''. Uralica Helsingiensia 7. Helsinki: 2015. pp. 97-150. {{ISBN|978-952-5667-67-7}}; {{ISSN|1797-3945}}.
* {{Cite journal |last=Jantunen |first=Santra |title=Syntactic and aspectual functions of Latvian verbal prefixes in Livonian |journal=Uralica Helsingiensia |volume=14 |date=2019 |issue=14 |pages=15–53 |doi=10.33341/uh.85032|doi-access=free }}.

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Wikisource|Min izāmō|Livonian Anthem|old=yes}}
{{Incubator|code=liv}}
*[http://www.livones.net/lv Livones.lv]
*[http://virtuallivonia.info/ Virtual Livonia]
*[http://www.eraksti.lv/fetchbook.php?urlkey=1312742 Latvian–Livonian–English Phrase Book]
* [http://giellatekno.uit.no/cgi/index.liv.eng.html Livonian language resources at Giellatekno]
* [http://sonad.oahpa.no/liv/fin Livonian – Latvian/Estonian/Finnish dictionary] (robust finite-state, open-source)

{{Languages of Latvia}}
{{Uralic languages}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Livonian Language}}
[[Category:Livonian language| ]]
[[Category:Finnic languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Latvia]]
[[Category:Extinct languages of Europe]]
[[Category:Languages extinct in the 2010s]]
[[Category:Languages written in Latin script]]
[[Category:Languages attested from the 16th century]]