BELGIUM |
LATVIA |
Practically, Belgium is divided into three linguistic zones:
1) northern (near Holland), where people use the Dutch (Flemish ) language, 2) southern (next to France), where French is most popular, 3) eastern, smallest of those three, (close to Germany), where German is used. About 57 per cent of Belgium people, who live in the northern part of the country are called 'Flemish people', and those living in the south were named 'The Valois', what came from the name of a medieval dynasty in the north of France. They make about 33 per cent of all the Belgians. Belgium in the natural way is called: Belgique (by the Valois) and Belgie (by Flemish people), and the official and dignified name of The Kingdom Of Belgium would be suitably: 'Royaume de Belgique' and 'Koninkrijk Belgie'. An original linguistic place in Belgium is its capital - Brussels, which is bilingual (Dutch and French), and all the signboards are there in two languages. |
There are about 1,5 million native speakers of Latvian. Of these 1,38 million reside in Latvia, the rest are scattered in the Ireland, Australia, UK, USA, Brasil, Russia, Canada, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia and in smaller numbers elsewhere.
As a second language Latvian is spoken by at least 0,5 million non-Latvian residents of Latvia. Latvian language belongs to the Indo-European family of languages - to the Baltic languages group. The oldest examples of written Latvian - hymn translations is from 1530. More information about Latvian language you can find here. (information from State Language commission webpage). You can find some activities about language.
|
MINI DICTIONARY
1. GETTING AROUND THE CITY – HOW TO ASK FOR GIVE INFORMATION
2. ACCOMMODATION – HOW TO BECOME A WELCOMED GUEST IN HOTEL
3. SOCIAL OCCASIONS - HOW TO AVOID FAUX PAS? HOW TO MEET A BOY /A GIRL?
4. SAYING "HI"
5. RESTAURANT – HOW TO ORDER MEAL?
6. SCHOOL OUR SECOND HOME. BASIC TERMS CONNECTED WITH SCHOOL
7. SHOPS AND SERVICES - HOW TO BE A POLITE CUSTOMER?
8. SOLVING PROBLEMS - THE WORDS YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE
9. TRANSPORT - HOW TO BUY THE RIGHT TICKET TO THE RIGHT TRAIN
BASIC TERMS:
NUMBERS. DAYS OF THE WEEK. SIGNBOARDS AND SOUNDBITES. THE SEASONS AND MONTH OF THE YEAR.
2. ACCOMMODATION – HOW TO BECOME A WELCOMED GUEST IN HOTEL
3. SOCIAL OCCASIONS - HOW TO AVOID FAUX PAS? HOW TO MEET A BOY /A GIRL?
4. SAYING "HI"
5. RESTAURANT – HOW TO ORDER MEAL?
6. SCHOOL OUR SECOND HOME. BASIC TERMS CONNECTED WITH SCHOOL
7. SHOPS AND SERVICES - HOW TO BE A POLITE CUSTOMER?
8. SOLVING PROBLEMS - THE WORDS YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF TROUBLE
9. TRANSPORT - HOW TO BUY THE RIGHT TICKET TO THE RIGHT TRAIN
BASIC TERMS:
NUMBERS. DAYS OF THE WEEK. SIGNBOARDS AND SOUNDBITES. THE SEASONS AND MONTH OF THE YEAR.