Colloquial Latvian

Christopher Moseley worked for two decades for the BBC World Service, specialising in Baltic affairs, and is now a freelance translator and editor. From September he will be taking up the post of Latvian teaching Fellow at SOAS. He has a particular interest in endangered and minority languages. He is the author of Colloquial Estonian (1994) and Colloquial Latvian (1996) and the general editor of the Routledge/Curzon Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages (2007) and the general editor (with R.E. Asher) of the Atlas of the World’s Languages (2007).

The sounds of Latvian 1 Rigas lidosta – At Riga Airport 2 Pa celam uz Rigu – On the way to Riga 3 Majas Riga – At home in Riga 4 Rigas veikalos – Shopping in Riga 5 Lauku dzive – Country life 6 Dzimšanas diena – A birthday 7 Ligo svetki – Midsummer celebrations 8 Brauciens ar autobusu – A bus journey 9 Dzivokli un majas -Flats and houses 10 Arzta vizite – The doctor comes 11 Tirgus darijumi – Business dealings 12 Sports – Sport 13 Brauciens ar riteni – A bicycle trip 14 Pusdienas – A dinner 15 Brauciens gar krastu – A trip along the coast 16 Muzika un kultura – Music and culture 17 Latvijas masu informacijas lidzekli – The Latvian mass media 18 Janis mekle savu sencu saknes – Janis seeks his family roots 19 Gimenes pedejas dienas Latvija – The family’s last days in Latvia 20 Atvadišanas - Farewell