Table Of ContentASJAS VARINSKA
L a t v i e S u
v a l o d a
MACIBUK URSS
NODARBIBAM
L a t v i a n
in 25 lessons
tr zvACAZnbt(
SATURS.- TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PriekSvãrds-. Foreword.
1. nodarbíbo.L atvieóua lfabets.- The Latvian Alphabet.. ............6
2. noda.rbíboK. as tas (tá,t ie, tãs)i r? .............. ............8
3. nodarbtba.Y ieta un laiks: kur?, kad?,c ikos? ........74
4. nodarbtboK. as ese smu?K as man ir? .,....................................19
5. nodarblbo.M ana gimene .....................23
6. nodarbtba. Es dzivoju Rigã, studeju Latvijas Universitãtë,
bet vël nerunàjul atviski ......................27
7. nodarbíboM. üsu mája .......... ...............31
8. nodarbíboK. o tu dari?T ieÉaisp apildinãtáj.s. .....................,.,..35
9. nodarbíbo.K afejnica,r estorãns ...,......38
10. nodq.rbíóo.E s eju uz universitáti, un es náku
no universitãtesK. o darac iti? ............42
11.n odarblbo.I epirkSanãs.. .......... ..........46
12. nod.arbíboG. adalaikiu n laiks Latvijã....... ............50
13.n odarbíboM. ácit un mácities ..............54
14.n odq.rbíbaIe. pazTáanás............. ............60
75.n odarbíboC. ilvèks .............64
16 . nodq.rbíba.K asjums patik/nepatik, garËo/negaréo,
sáp/nesáp? .......67
17.n odarbíóoS. arunas ...........7L
18.n odarbtóoS. mieklii r vislabãkãsz ãles ..................75
19.n odarbíbaR. Tgau n Vecriga. .................78
20. nod.a.rbïóoV.e seligsd zivesveids ..........82
21. nodarbíbqK. as tev ir, un kã tev nav? ....................88
22. nodarbíboM. ësb raucamv iesos. ...:............... .........90
23.n od.arbíbaE. sjums gribu pastãstitp ar ... .............94
24. nodarbtboM. ans draugsv ai manad raudzene.. ....:.. .............9.9..,
25. nodarbíbo.K o jús esati zdarijis/-usi? ...............1..0. 1
Pieliltums: ........-..106
Lietvárdug alotnes ................106
Prievãrdul ietojums ...............107
IpaÈibasv ãrdu un apstãkfav árdu salidzinàmãsp akápes. .........1..0 8
Darbibasv ãrds.1 . konjugâcija............... .....................109
PRIEKSVARDS
Pasaulei r apmëram 6000 valodu, un valodu daudzveidibai r viens
no nãkotnes problëmu aspektiem.I ntensivã iedzivotãju pãrvietoËa-
nãs ir radijusi jaunu valodass ituãciju,u n ir prieks, ka daudzi latvie5u
valodu uzskata par bagãtinãÈanása votu un vèlast o apgut. Tã vi4iem
ir ne tikai savask ompetencesp ierãdijums darba tirgu, bet ari cie4as
apliecinãjums.
Si grãmata ir tapusi, strãdãjot ar ãrvalstu studentiem LU Valodu
centrã. Tã paredzëtad arbam grupã skolotãjav adibã, bet tikpat labi
to var izmantot ari individuãlãm studijãm. Tajã dominë lietiÉt<ak o-
munikativa pieejav alodai, nepretendejotu z dzifu gramatikas un va-
lodas ipatnibu izpeti. sis latvieÉuv alodasm ãcÌbu lidzeklis sastãvn o
25 nodarbibãm, kas strukturètas tâ, lai, apgüstot paSusn epiecie-
Éamákosg ramatikas jedzienus, interesents varëtu tos izmëginãt si-
tuativos vingrinãjumos, bet pec tam jau lietot ikdienas situãcijãs.
Tã kã par nodarbibu starpniekvalodu ir izmantota angfu valoda,
grãmatá tiek dots vãrdu tulkojums vai nu paÉãt ekstá, vai atseviÈki
nodarbibai pievienotã vãrdnici4ã. Bútu vêlams katram, kas mãcãs,
veidot savu individuãlo vãrdnicu, apgustamot ëmu ikreiz papildinãt
ar sev aktuãliem vãrdiem un vãrdkopãm.
Darbã pie mãcibu lidzekJai r izmantota gan paÈmãju,g an árzemju
mãcibu grãmatu autoru pieredzeu n valodasm etodi\u ierosinãjumi,
bet galvenokãrt pieredze LIJ Valodu centrã, pãrbaudot Éosm ãcibu
materiãlus praksë, proti, palidzot interesentiem apgut latvieéu va-
lodu gan individuãli, gan daZãdãsg rupãs.
sis mãcibu kurss ir paredzètst iem, kuri tikai sãk mãcitiesl atvieÉu
valodu un vèlas ãtri apgut tãs pamatiemanas,p roti, spëju gan pa-
jautãt kaut ko otram, gan paÈama tbildet uz jautãjumiem, lai iesais-
titos daZãdãsi kdieniÈI,<ãssa runãs (piem., iepazistinot citus ar sevi,
iepërkoties,è dot utt.). Paredzot,k a 5ãdsÌ omu spelëa izsãciesd iarogs
tiks adaptets un turpinãts reãlajã situãcijá, tematiski galvenã uz-
maniba tiek pieversta cilvëkam (BS Ëajãp asaulë:k as esmu es pats,
kas ir man apkãrt, kas man patik, garÉou tt.), pakãpeniskip apla5inot
tematu loku un hdz ar to ari leksiku.
Turklãt katra nodarbiba tiek balstita uz noteiktu gramatisko ma-
teriãlu, nostiprinot lietojuma iema4asa r vingrinãjumiem.
Tulkojums dots tekstã, kã ari klãt pievienotajãv ãrdnicã tãdëf, lai
sãkumã tekstu varëtu uztvert kopumã un tikai péct am ar vãrdnÍcas
palidzibu to saprastup ilnibã.
Mãcibu kursã ir 25 nodarbibas.T ã kã valodasa pguvess lodzep akã-
peniski aug, informativi piesãtinãtãkãsn odarbibas (piem., 18. nod.
par atgïiezeniskajiemd arbibasv ãrdiem) bútu ipaËij ãpielãgo atlases
veidã katras grupas individuãlajãm prasibãm. Tomër uzskatu, ka
vietumis ir nepiecieéamsin formativs pãrskats, jo Ëis grãmatas uz-
devumsi r parãdit vienkopuss varigãkol atvieéuv alodasg ramatiskajã
sistèmã, lai pëc tam Éis pamatzinãÉanasv arëtu likt lietã, no atse-
viÉlriemv ãrdiem, frãzèm, teikumiem kã no liegelióiem katram paÉam
búvéjot savu máju - stãstijumu par sevi, saviem draugiem, savãm
studijãm, interesëm un iespaidiem,i sãk sakot, par savu dzivi.
Asja Svarinska,
LU Valodu centra lehtore
FOREWORD
There are approximately 6.000 languagesi n the world and the
great variety of languagesi s one aspect of future problems. A new
languages ituation has been createdb y an intense increasei n new-
comers.I t is a joy that many of them consider Latvian a source of
enrichment and want to master it. This is not simply a proof of their
competenceb ut also an acknowledgemento f respect.
The book was developedw orking with foreigners in the LU Lan-
guage Centre. It is intended for group work with a teacher's guid-
ance but is equally useful for independent study.A communicative
approacht o the languagei s dominant - there is no deepr esearcho f
grammar and language characteristics. This textbook consists of
25 lessons,s o structured that the reader,m astering the most essen-
tial grammar concepts,c an practiset hem in the related exercisesa nd
then use them in daily situations.
SinceE nglish is useda s the intermediary languagef or the lessons,
translations are given in the book, either in the text or in the vo-
cabulary attachedt o eachl esson.I t is recommendedt o compileo ne's
own vocabulary collection, constantly complementing the acquired
subjectw ith words and phrasesn eeded.
The book has a supplement - a gïammar summary, which can
serve as a basef or further study of Latvian.
In compiling this textbook,t he experienceo f local and foreign text-
book writers and languagem ethodologya s well as the experienceo f
the author in the LU LanguageC entre, testing these teaching mate-
rials in practice have been used.
Asja Svarinska,
LU Language Centre lecturer
1.N ODARBIBA
LATVIESUA LFABETS.
THE LATVIANA LPHABET.
Letters Example Approximate
pronuncíation
A a galds( table),g alva (head) but, sun
à a mãte (mother), mãsa (sister) father, car
B b brãlis (brother),balts( whìte) big, butter
C c cití (others),c efot (to trauel) cats
Õ O éetri (four), óeks (check) child, church
D d diena (day), darit (to do) day
Dz dz dzert (to drinh), dzlve (life) buds
Dú dú, dadi:i (thistle), dí,emperisÇ umper) jump
E e 1) es (1),2 ) esmu (I am) 1) egg,2 ) bad
n e 1) èst (lo eaí),2) tëvsf ather) 1) chair, 2) flat
F f foto (photo),f ilma (mouie) fun, find
G g galds (table), gads Qear) good, give
ç g gimene (family), gitãra @uitar) (ani ntermediaryb etween
-g- and paìatal -d-)
H h humors (humour),h imna (hymn) hello, half
Ii silts (warm), ilgt (long) tip, sit
ii iss (sàorl), tris (three) feet, three
I
Jj jauns Qoung),j üs (yoa) yes, you
K k kãja (leg), kafija (coffee) king (no aspiration)
I K k kakis (cat), \ermenrs (body) (voiceÌessc ounterpart
of á)
L I labs (€'ood), lampa (lamp) lamp, look
I
I/ I ]audis (people),lo tì (uery) million
M m mate (mother), maja (house) milk, main
N n nazis (hnife), nakts (niqht) night, no
N + +emt (to take) new
O o 1) ola (egg),l ogs (window) 1) wallet, 2) rob
I
2) foto (photo),3)o pera (opera) 3) oil, more
P p putns (bírd), puika (lod) pen, pencil
R r roka (hqnd, arm), RTga brogue (no aspiration)
S s suns (dog), seja( face) seven, sit
S s Éeit( here),é is (táls) she, shoe
I
Tt tëvs (fqther), tagad (now) ten, tall (no aspiration)
Uu uguns (fire), upe (riuer) look, put
üu údens (water) food, fool
Vv vecs( old),v isi (all) vote, vine
Zz zeme( eq.rth),z áles (medícine) zero, lazy
zn í,el (pity), Zurnáls (iourn'al) pleasure
Diphtongs
ai is pronouncedl ike English fine;
tnáir" (bread),b ailes (fear fright), laime (happiness)
au is pronouncedl ike English ãorl;
jaiks (fine, nice), LauLa( nation) , augsts (high), auksts (cold),
draugs (friend)
ei is pronouncedl ike English PreY:
meita (daughter),E iropa, h,leita(' dtess)
ui no counterpart in English:
puika (boy,lad)
s [uol ola (egd, skola (school), Iogs (window), soma (bag)
ie is pronouncedl ike English ear;
,rriugt (snow), íet (to go), iela (street, road), ieeja (entran'ce),
liepã (t im e- t r ee ) , latvieíu valoda (t he L atui an I ang ua g e)
Observeth ea ddiÌionasli gno vera ndu ndert he letters!
1) palatalizatiosing nf or g, [<,l, !i
2)s ignÍ orc h,s h,v oiceds h = ë, é, à;
3) signÍ or lengtheninogf thev owelsã , ë, i, ú.
stress is usuallyo n the firsts yllableg: rãmata( book)e, s nelasu( l am not
readni g),p ecpusdien(aa ftern oon).
Lasiet! Pievèrsiet uzmanibu õaurajai e, é ska4ai (A) un platajai e, é
ska+ai (B).
Read. Pay attention to the pronunciation of e, e sound'
à n, è - dëstit,v eselibar, edzësi,s édésime, glei,s ênei,c ëIienss, eja,
Ëu"ce,c efÉ,r itenis, méÌe, meús,bezgaligss,a ule,p riede,e s,b et, ne,
në, pec, nest, vest, èst, audzët, mácët, zrmët, meklët, peldet, sëdet,
teátiis, kamene,t ëvija, \ede, drèbnieks,n e!!e, nedefa,m ërlfis' spëlet,
skatuve,v ãvere,o keãns,t e, Éeit,s ekunde,d zert, slepes,d ejot, medit,
debesise, gle,e lle,e konomika,e ksámens,e ksperiments,ê dnÍca,e ksis-
tence
E E, é - deÌna,ë na, retums, véstule,l edú, vetrains, tèlot, telpa,
Zèlot, vësture, vecãki, ènains, ezerà,g leznains, uznèmums, vëtra,
galvenais,p eldus, elkonis, cena, sekot, vedekla, vésãks, sega, dels,
sëdus,e lpa,e sma,m etu, sens,s enatne,p eÌni, esmu,ë ka
Standardphrases
Sveiks! Sveiki! Hellol How do you do! (meeting)
Good-byel( parting)
Labdien! Labrit! Labvakar! Goodd ayl Goodm orning!
Goode vening!
Uz redzëSanos! Good-byeSl o Ìong!
Piedodiet! Excusem e! I beg your pardon!
Atvainojiet! I am sorry!
Nekas, lúdzu! That is all right!
Paldies! Thanks!
Lúdzu! Pleasel
Labprãt! Gladly,w ith pleasure.
Diemàël unfortunateÌy; I am afraid
Kã tevi (iüs) sauc?
What is your name?
Kãds ir tavs 0üsu) vãrds?
one shouldr emembert hatt herea re2 Íormso Í the personalp ronouny ou - tu
(thes ingularf orm) andl ús (the pluralÍ orm).
f Hotel Youu seÍ u whena ddressinga persony ou knoww ello r a child,b utp s -
I whefìa ddressinga person,w ho is not familiarw ith you or is oldert han you.
2. NODARBIBA
KAS TAS (TA, TIE, TAS)t R?
Singular
"-f@:ìÉ-\il
tu
Kas tas ir? (What isthat?) lll ït
*
ìlJ
Tas ir galds. Vai tasir gaÌds?J á, tas ir galds. (Nè, tas nav galds.)
Kas tas ir? Tas ir logs.
Vai ... ... galds?N è, tas ir logs.B et kas tas
Jà, ... ...... . (Nè,. .. ... ... .)
Kas tas ir? Tas ir vecs ZurnãÌs, M
meÌns ka\is,
celõ,
tèvs,
labs draugs,
liels kugis,
jauns pulkstenis,
ledus,
liels tirgus,
saÌdsm edus.
/r 7/- à/ .
^
Kas tã ir? LwÏ'W Tã ir grãmata. Vai tã ir grãma La?J â, tã ìr
grãmata. Nê, tã nav ... .
Kas tã ir? Ta ir veca vãrdnica. Vai ... ... ...
jauna, nevis veca vãrdnica.
Kas tã ir? Ta ir mája,
mãsa, laba draudzene,
liela lampa,
garSiga sëne,
smarZiga pube,
garÈiga zemene,
üP€,
jüra,
sirds,
uguns.
In Latviant here are two genders.M asculinen ouns in the nominativec ase,
singulare, nd in -s/-5,- is or -us. Femininen ounsh avee ndings- a, -e or some-
times -s. There are six cases in Latvian.T he nominativec ase answerst he
questionw hat?/who?
!
Note: ln Latviant here is no differenceb etweenw hat and who - kas is useq
Íor both - personsa nd things.
Kas tas ir? Tas ir Jãnis. Kas tas ir? Tas ir galds.
Kas tã ir? Tã ir meitene. Kas tã ir? Ta ir grãmata.
Plural
Kas tie ir? Tie ir galdi,
log.,
veci Zurnãli,
lieli koki,
ka\i,
cefi,
tëvi, labi draugi,
lieli kugi,
jauni pulkste4i,
lieli tirgi.
Kas tãs ir? Tás ir grámatas,
vãrdnrcas,
mãtes,
draudzenes,
senes,
zemenes,
upes,
júras,
vecasl ampas,
gudras meitenes,
sirdis,
govis.
10
There are six declensions of nouns in Latvian.
Lietvärdu galotnes nominativä.
The Nominativee ndings of nouns.
1. dekl. 2. dekl. 3. dekl. 4. dekl. 5. dekl. 6. dekl.
viensk. -is -a -e -s
(sg.)
Nom.
daudzsk. -i -i -i -as -es -is
(pl.)
Pieméram:
1. tévs —t évi 4. mäsa —m äsas
2. brälis —b räli 5. mäte mätes
3. tirgus —ti rgi 6. uguns —u gunis
Kas tas ir? Bet kas ir Sis? Sis ir krésls, bet tas ir galds. Kas Si ir? Si ir
avize. Vai éi ari ir avize? Né, éi nav avize, Si ir grämata.
Singular: Tas/tä (that) refers to something at a distance. Sis/Si (this) refers to
somethingw ithino ne's reach. Plural: tie/täs and Sie/éis
Käds ir {is galds? Sis galds ir mazs, bet tas ir
liels galds. Sis ir mazs galds.
Käda ir Si lampa? Si lampa ir liela, bet tä ir maza.
Si ir skaista lampa.
Räds? Käda? Kädi? Kädas? —w hat kind of what does he look
like? etc.
Kädai r puke? Si puke ir balta, bet tä ir sarkana.
Rädas ir éis pukes? Sis pukes ir ..., bet täs ir .
Räds ir éis students? Sis students ir éakls (active),b et tas students
nav éakls. Tas students ir slinks (lazy). Kädi ir gie studenti? Sie
studentii r ..., bet tie studenti ir .... Kädasi r müsu studentes?M üsu
studentesi r
11
