Dažas gramatiskas pārmaiņas lībiešu valodā latviešu valodas ietekmē
Some grammatical changes in Livonian triggered by language contact with Latvian

Summary/Abstract: The article provides an insight into the process of various grammatical changes in Livonian developed by the prolonged contact situation with Latvian. Livonian is strongly influenced by the Latvian at different levels due to the close and endured contact between the speakers of two languages, it is necessary to note that speakers of Livonian were bilinguals for a long time. It is clear that Livonian has affected Latvian in similar way. The process of mutual borrowings can be observed in the vocabulary most clearly; however, there are changes that have occurred in the phonetics and grammar as well. The influence of Latvian resulted in the changes of Livonian case system – disappearance of exterior locative cases and formation of dative, merging of translative and comitative and formation of instrumental; development of prefixes from inherited words; composition of negation; formation of passive voice; and the rising of articles. One should be noted that linguistically correct knowledge of the ancient history of the Livonian language is not sufficient in terms of volume.

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