Competition starts for Estonian-Latvian Language Award for 2024

TALLINN - The foreign ministries of Estonia and Latvia on Wednesday announced the annual Latvian and Estonian Language Promotion Award.

The aim of the award is to enhance knowledge of the Latvian and Estonian languages and to recognize the achievements of Latvian and Estonian translators, linguists, teachers and managers of language learning projects in the promotion of the Latvian and Estonian languages. The foreign ministries of Estonia and Latvia will announce the winner jointly.

In line with the regulation of the Language Promotion Award, everyone can submit candidates who have contributed to Estonian or Latvian language in 2024 with translation or academic work, or by managing a language-learning project, including journalistic programs, articles and broadcasts on language promotion, in Estonia or Latvia. Candidates can include journalists, teachers, university teachers or institutions that have been engaged in teaching Estonian in Latvia or Latvian in Estonia.

The monetary value of the award is 5,000 euros and the Award Fund receives equal contributions from the ministries of foreign affairs of Latvia and Estonia. The jury includes representatives from the foreign ministries of both countries as well as language and literature experts.

The Language Promotion Award is presented for the 15th time. Previous winners are Maima GrInberga in 2009 and 2012, Guntars GodiNS in 2010, 2013 and 2018, Kalev Kalkun in 2011, Margus Konnula alias Contra in 2014, Valts Ernštreits in 2015, Livia Viitol in 2016, Rūta Karma in 2017, Ilze TAlberga in 2019, Lembit Vaba in 2020, Daila Ozola in 2021, Hea Lugu Publishers in 2022, and Karl Pajusalu in 2023.

The deadline for submitting candidates for achievements in 2024 is May 26, 2025.