Lutsi language – a forgotten South-Estonian language island
An American with Latvian roots, Uldis Balodis, who grew up in the USA being the only person in the region who spoke a different language, shaped with that experience his future linguist profession identity and grew interest to study extinct language isolates. That in turn became later his field to study Lutsi language. Uldis Balodis discovered being from his father’s side Lutsi people descendant that also has been one of the reasons that lead to the road study Lutsi language.
During the work he also researched Livonian language and co-operated with Livonian institute, a subsidiary of Institute of Latvia. In 2019 Uldis Balodis published Lutsi language children’s textbook which is first step in revitalization of a forgotten Estonian language Southern-Estonian kindred language branch and pave the way for the people who regard themselves to be the descendants of Lutsi people be again the Lutsi people culturally and language wise.
Lutsis are in South-East Latvia, Latgale region, a language island of Estonians in a constellation of villages, but mostly in Ludza village and its vicinity lived and living Estonians, who has had impact on Eastern-Latvia language Latgale language, and in other hand reflect Latgale language impact in their vocabulary, but not the standard Latvian language. The history of formation of the Lutsi people is little researched area and there’s lot to do to catch up with but per the Lutsi people stories they are people who moved out during the Livonian War (1558–1583) to the East Latvia, Latgale region, and the farmers came from the South-Estonia region, that’s why the Lutsi language is regarded as a South-Estonia dialect or diverged branch.
Estonian linguists are capable of deriving per the surnames one’s descendance and that’s especially noticeable among the surnames of Lutsi people which linguistic forms are recognizable as in Estonian and also in Latvian forms.
Biggest surprise of the Lutsi people area of settlement is noticeable proximity to land of Belarus and Belarus ethnos, which requires a standalone article.
On June 2, 2021 Uldis Balodis announced of his upcoming paper in autumn’s issue of a renowned linguistic journal on Lutsi language where he, per an old tradition, wrote the abstract in the local language where the research was performed, in Latvian, also in English and in the language the research was made on, namely abstract in Lutsi language about the Lutsi language research. Being a total know-nothing of Lutsi language and having limited contact with Võro, Seto and other South-Estonia languages, but being on a level capable of understanding them to an extent and enjoying when the languages being spoken, then reading the abstract in Lutsi language is very welcomed new challenge that on the first glimpse seems to be very easily obtainable, but most probably this stems from the fact the same abstract is in two other languages.
For those who have greater interests of additional material on Lutsi language advise to take a look at Uldis Balodis maintained www.lutsimaa.lv page where he in Latvian, Estonian and English gives wider overview of Lutsi language and culture.
Also, on Estonian National Broadcast Company ERR on Vikerraadio radio station program “Keelesaade” (“Language show”) program participated linguist Karl Pajusalu, who has also researched Lutsi language and co-writes the upcoming paper with Uldis Balodis, gives plenty on insight into Lutsi language and culture.
Uldis Balodis announcement on his upcoming paper is available on his Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/ubalodis/posts/10158608004448915.
