General
Languages: Latvian, Livonian, Estonian – C2; English, Finnish, russian – C1; German – B1; Hungarian, Lithuanian, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian – A1.
Education
2010 Doctor (Dr. phil.), Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tartu, Institute of Estonian Language and General Linguistics. Dissertation: “The development of the Livonian written language” (Liivi kirjakeele kujunemine).
2002 Master’s degree (Mag. art.), Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tartu, Department of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Languages, Chair of Finnish Language in the Baltic Sea.
1998 Bachelor’s degree (Bac. art.), Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tartu, Department of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Languages, Chair of Finnic Languages.
1991 Secondary education, Riga State 1st Gymnasium.
Professional experience
2022– Art Academy of Latvia, Head of the Board
2021–2023 Advisor to the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia on the implementation of cultural policy
2019–2021 Member and Chairman (2020–2021) of the Council of the State Culture Capital Foundation.
2018– Director and leading researcher of the University of Latvia Livonian Institute.
2014 Member of the Examination Commission for Sworn Translators and Interpreters of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Estonia.
2012 Expert of the European Social Fund project “Evaluation of higher education curricula and proposals for quality improvement”.
2010– Researcher at the Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics of the University of Tartu.
2008–2009 Researcher at the Institute of the Estonian Language.
2006– SIA “NicePlace”, Member of the Board.
1993– Self-employed translator and interpreter.
2003–2007 Lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Latvia.
2001– 2008 SIA “TimeDivision”, Member of the Board.
2001–2002 News editor of the portal Apollo.lv.
1994–1999 Chief Specialist and Deputy Director of the State Specially Protected Cultural and Historical Territory “Līvõd Rānda” (1998–1999).
1992-1994 Freelance correspondent for Radio Free Europe, Diena and Postimees (Estonia).
Creative Activity
Writes poetry and prose in Livonian and Latvian. Poetry translated into English, Estonian, Finnish, Dutch, Serbian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Russian. Guest participant of poetry festivals Poetry International (Rotterdam, the Netherlands; 2002), Socia and the Nordic Poetry Festival (Estonia, Tallinn; 2005), Hay Festival of Literature & Arts (Hay-on-Wye, UK; 2017), Turun Runoviikko (Turku, Finland; 2021) and many others. Translates poetry from Livonian, Estonian, Finnish, Russian.
Creates art predominantly in graphic and watercolor techniques, participates in several solo exhibitions and exhibitions of groups of Livonian artists in Latvia (1995, 2003, 2011), Estonia (1995, 1997, 1998, 2004) and Finland (1998, 2011). Has also created performative art (e.g. social art object “Mingiži līvidi äb ūo” (There are no Livonians) in 2021.
Poetry collections
2019 Seļļizt nemē mēg. People like us [Livonian, English]. London: Francis Boutle press.
2014 Dark Energy [Latvian]. Riga: Apgāds Mansards.
2013 Nagu lumehelbed talvel… [Livonian, Estonian]. Sast. Livia Vītola, ed. Lembits Vaba. Tallinn: Libri Livoniae.
2004 Inter/Rational [Latvian]. Rīgas Jauno literātu apvienība: Riga.
Compiled, edited and translated poetry and prose
2021 Trillium/Triliums 2.0. [Livonian, Estonian, Latvian] Tartu: Liivi Sõprade selts. Compiler, editor, author and translator.
2020 Kōrli Stalte. Rikāz rānda. Bagātā jūrmala [Livonian, Latvian]. Rīgõ: Līvõ kultūr sidām. Compiler and editor.
2019 Seļļizt nemē mēg / People Like Us. [Livonian / English]. London: Francis Boutle Publishers.
2014 Jānis Princis, vecākais. Jūrnieku svētās dziesmas un lūgšanas [Latvian]. Ventspils: Ventspils lībiešu apvienība “Rānda”. Compiler.
2013 Ķempi Kārl. Ķempju Kārlis. Salats joug kolm aģa. Salatsi jõe kolm kallast. Salacas upes trīs krasti [Livonian, Estonian, Latvian]. Mõtsapuol=Metsapoole=Metsepole: Līvõd Sõbrād seļtš (Lībiešu draugu biedrība). Editor,author, and translator.
2011 Kōrli Stalte. Jelzi sõnā. Ābēd ja īrgandõks lugdõbrōntõz. [Living word. Alphabet and book for early reading; Livonian] Rīgõ: Emakeele Selts, Līvõ Kultūr sidām. Editor.
2011 Kā iznirst lībieši. Kui sūolõbõd līvlizt [Livonian, Latvian]. Rīgõ: Līvõ Kultūr sidām. Compiler, editor, and translator.
2018 Trilium/Trillium [Livonian, English]. Rīga–Tartu: Līvõ kultūr sidām, Starptautiskā Lībiešu draugu biedrība. Compiler, editor, and author.
1998 Anthology of Liv poetry “Ma akūb sīnda vizzõ, tūrska!” (I’m trickier than you, cod!) [Livonian, Latvian]. Līvõ Kultūr Sidām: Riga. Compiler, author and translator.
Research Activity
Number of research articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases on development of Digital resources for under-resourced and underrepresented languages, Livonian written language and literature, Livonian and Latvian grammar, Latvian place names, lexicography, language corpora and other subjects.
Courses on the Livonian language, history and culture, translation at the University of Tartu, University of Helsinki, University of Oulu, University of Budapest, University of Göttingen, University of Uppsala, University of Latvia, University of Vilnius, University of Liepaja and others. Organizer and lecturer of Livonian Summer Universities (2013, 2017, 2021) – a university-level program for doctoral and master’s students of different countries to study the Livonian language, culture and history, developed in cooperation with the University of Tartu.
Major research projects
2022–2024 Project “Daudzfunkcionāla lībiešu valodas vārdnīca” [“Multifunctional Dictionary of the Livonian Language”] within National Research Programs “Letonika latviskas un eiropeiskas sabiedrības attīstībai” [“Letonics for the Development of Latvian and European Society”] (VPP-LETONIKA-2021/2-0002). Project Manager.
2021-2023 Project “Re-voicing cultural landscapes: narratives, perspectives, and performances of marginalized intangible cultural heritage” within “Joint Programming Initiatives. Cultural Heritage, Identities & Perspectives: Responding to Changing Societies”. Project manager of the partner institution.
2020–2022 National Research Program “Humanitāro zinātņu digitālie resursi: integrācija un attīstība” [“Digital Resources of the Humanities: Integration and Development”] (VPP-IZM-DH-2020/1-0001). Chief executor, project manager of the partner institution.
2020–2022 Fundamental and Applied Research Program Project “Lībiešu vietvārdu apzināšana, kartēšana un oficiālo vietvārdu reģistra izveide” [“Identification, Mapping of Livonian Place Names and Establishment of the Register of Official Place Names”] (LZP-2019/1-0240). Project Manager.
2018–2021 State research program “Latvian language” [“Latviešu valoda”] sub-project “Livonian language” [“Lībiešu valoda”] (VPP-IZM-2018/2-0002). Project Manager.
2013–2018 Estonian Science Agency Grant Program “Prosodic Structure of Finno-Ugric Languages and Language Contacts”, Faculty of Humanities, Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, University of Tartu, Estonia (IUT2-37).
2011-2013 Estonian-Latvian Program Project “Development of Estonian – Latvian and Latvian – Estonian Dictionary”. Compiler and editor-in-chief of the Estonian-Latvian dictionary.
2010–2014 Estonian Science Foundation Grant Program Project “Development of Finno-Ugric Languages (2010-2014) (Compilation of “Livonian-Estonian Dictionary” and publication of Finno-Ugric publications, including publication of Votian syntax)”, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tartu, Estonia (SFLEE10153 ).
2010–2012 Estonian Science Foundation Grant Program Project “Livonian Morphology in the Finnish Language Area of the Baltic Sea”, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tartu, Estonia (ETF8409).
2008–2012 Estonian Science Foundation Grant Program Project “Phonetic, Phonological and Morphological Regularities of Finno-Ugric Languages”, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tartu, Estonia (SF0180076s08).
Monographs and compiled scientific publications
2018 Ernštreits, Valts; Pajusalu Karl, eds. Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri. Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics. Special Issue: Studies on Livonian III. 9 (2).
2016 Ernštreits, Valts; Pajusalu Karl, eds. Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri. Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics. Special Issue: Studies on Livonian II. 7 (1).
2015 Ernštreits, Valts; Marika Muzikante, Maima Grīnberga. Igauņu-latviešu vārdnīca. Eesti-läti sõnaraamat. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus.
2014 Ernštreits, Valts; Pajusalu Karl, eds. Eesti ja soome-ugri keeleteaduse ajakiri. Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics. Special Issue: Studies on Livonian. 5 (1).
2012 Viitso, Tiit-Rein; Ernštreits, Valts. Līvõkīel-ēstikīel-lețkīel sõnārōntõz. Liivi-eesti-läti sõnaraamat. Lībiešu-igauņu-latviešu vārdnīca. Tartu / Rīga: Tartu Ülikool.
2011 Ernštreits, Valts. Lībiešu Rakstu valoda. Rīga: Latviešu Valodas aģentūra.
2008 Lehiste, I.; Teras, P.; Ernštreits, V.; Lippus, P.; Pajusalu, K.; Tuisk, T.; Viitso, T.-R. Livonian prosody. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia=Mémoires de la Société Finno-Ougrienne. Helsinki.
1999 Ernštreit, Valt. Līvõkīel-lețkīel ja lețkīel-līvõkīel sõnārōntõz. Lībiešu-latviešu, latviešu-lībiešu vārdnīca. Līvõ Kultūr Sidām. Rīga.
TRANSLATION WORK
Working as a self-employed translator and interpreter providing written and oral translations to a wide range of Latvian, Estonian and international companies, Estonian and Latvian state and local government institutions and non-governmental organizations. The most important interpretations include the state visit of the President of the Republic of Estonia Arnold Rüütel to the Republic of Latvia (2005), the state visit of the Speaker of the Saeima Gundars Daudze to the Republic of Estonia (2008), the visit of the President of the Republic Toomas Hendrik Ilves to Latvia (2012), State visit of the Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece to Estonia (2014), translations of speeches by Presidents Vaira-Vīķe Freiberga, Andris Bērziņš, Raimonds Vējonis, Egils Levits, Presidents of the Republic of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Kersti Kaljulaid, Alar Karis, as well as translation of speeches, meetings, and publicity events of other senior officials of Latvia and Estonia.
MEMBERSHIP IN ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING GROUPS AND COMMITTEES
Participation in research organizations
2020 Corresponding member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.
2011 Corresponding member of Finnish Literature Society (Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura).
2010 Member of Estonian Mother Tongue Society (Emakeele Selts).
Participation in social organizations
1994–2021 Association Līvõ kultūr sidām (Livonian Cultural Center), incl. Member of the Board.
1989–1996 Association “Livonian Union “Līvõd Īt”, incl. Member of the Board (1996).
Participation in in organizations and committees
2023 – Leader of the 2023 Livonian Heritage Year coordination group (announced by the UNESCO Latvian commission, Latvian National Cultural Centre and UL Livonian Institute).
2022 – Member of the Council of the Latvian historical lands and cultural spaces.
2021 – Member of the UN Global Task Force for making the action for the International Decade for Indigenous Languages, Latvian representative and co-chair (since 2022) of the steering committee.
2021 Member of the Consultative Council of the Finno-Ugric Peoples.
2020 Member of the Working Group for the Protection of the Livonian Culture and Language established by the Order of the Prime Minister.
2011–2012 Head of the Organizing Committee of the International Year of the Livonian Language and Culture.
1998–1999 Member of the working group for the preparation of the national long-term target program “Livonians in Latvia”.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
State awards
2015 Cross of the Recognition of the Republic of Latvia, Fifth Class
2013 Knight (V) of the Order of the Lion of the Republic of Finland
2012 1st Class Order of the Cross of Terra Marian of the Republic of Estonia
1998 Class V of the Order of St. Olaf of the Kingdom of Norway
Awards
2022 Prize of EW Ponkala foundation (Finland) for the development of cultural contact between Nations speaking Finno-Ugric languages.
2020 Award of the Council of the Kindred People’s Programme of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Estonia Ilmapuu (World Tree) for the contribution to the preservation and development of the Livonian cultural identity.
2020 Award of the Council of the Kindred People’s Programme of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Estonia in Literature in the poetry category for the bilingual (Livonian/English) collection of contemporary Livonian poets “Trilium / Trillium”.
2019 The Annual Latvian Literature Award (LaLiGaBa) for the bilingual (Livonian/ English) collection of contemporary Livonian poets “Trilium / Trillium”.
2016 Latvian and Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Language Award for preparation of the Estonian-Latvian dictionary and contribution to the Estonian and Livonian language research.
- National Scientific Award of the Council of the Kindred People’s Programme of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Estonia for the work in the field of national sciences of the Uralic peoples – monograph “Livonian written language”.
Nominations
2018 Nomination for the title “European Man of the Year in Latvia” awarded by the European Movement Latvia.
2014 Nomination for the poetry prize of the literary magazine “Latvju teksti” for the poetry collection “Dark Energy”.
2013 Nomination for the Estonian Translator Award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Estonia for the Livonian-Estonian-Latvian Dictionary.
2012 Nomination for the annual award of the newspaper “Diena” in culture for the compiled poetry collection “Kui sūolõbõd līvlizt. Kā iznirst lībieši”.
2011 Nomination for the Estonian Translator Award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and Estonia for the translation of the book by Dace Maberga “Klassikaline modernism. Läti maalikunst 20. sajandi alguses” [Classical Modernism: Latvian Painting in the Early 20th Century].
Other acknowledgments
2021 Acknowledgement from the Estonian Mother Tongue Association (Emakeele Selts) for the contribution to the promotion of the association and the preservation of the Livonian culture and language.
2021 Acknowledgement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia for the contribution to civil diplomacy.
2019 Acknowledgement from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia for the contribution in the research and development of the Livonian language and culture.
2019 Honorary badge “Tienū!” from the Livonian Union “Līvõd Īt”
29/01/2024
Valts Ernštreits
