Extinct dialect of South Estonian
The Ludza dialect or Lutsi (Ludzī kīļ) is a dialect of South Estonian that was spoken in Latvia by the Ludza Estonians near the town of Ludza in Latvia. Ludza is the most similar to the Seto dialect of South Estonian.[1] The Ludza dialect has been on a decline and is now extinct. It was estimated that around 800 people spoke Ludza in the year 1894, and in 1936 this number had decreased to only around 30-40 people. The last native speaker of Ludza dialect was Nikolājs Nikonovs, who was from the village of Lielie Tjapši. He died in the year 2006 but some people still have small knowledge of the dialect.[1] The last knowledgeable passive speaker Antonīna Nikonova, died later in 2014.[2]
History
The origin of the Ludza people is a mystery, and there are many theories about it. Lutsis themselves had many stories about their origins, one of the stories is about fleeing from Sweden. In 1893 Oskar Kallas found Ludzi speakers in 53 villages around Mērdzene, Pilda, Nirza and Brigi. There were attempts to get Ludza be taught in schools, and creating a standard written form. However these efforts were stopped by Ulmanis. And Paulopriit Voolaine, who was the one to attempt creating Ludza education was banned from entering Latvia. During the Soviet occupation, Voolaine visited the Lutsis again. Lutsi dialect persisted the longest in Lielie Tjapši.[3]
Current situation
The Ludza people are still mostly aware of their heritage and some can make sentences in Ludza and know a few words. The Ludza people have in recent times connected with Livonians and in 2019 a Ludza song was performed at a Livonian culture event.[4] In the year 2020 a book was published for studying the Ludza dialect called "Lutsi kiele lementar" by Uldis Balodis.[5][6] Lutsis who live in the area around Mērdzene generally have no knowledge of the Ludza dialect but areas south of the town of Ludza near Pilda have more knowledge of the language.[7]
Examples of Ludza
Kuningas lähäț voiska poiga oțșma = The king sent the army to look for the boy
Kost sa neoq kalaq vytiq? = From where did you get those fish?
Sǟd jo imǟ poiga sytta = Still the mother is sending the son to war.
Tulkke mäele = Come up the mountain
Annaq mulle kaq maitsaq = Give it to me to taste, too
Kșondz katenetyiskümneni tunnini maka-aiq = The priest doesn't sleep until twelve o'clock
Alphabet
a, ā, ä, ǟ, b, b̦, d, d̦, e, ē, f, g, ģ, h, h̦, i, ī, j, k, ķ, l, ļ, m, m̦, n, ņ, o, ō, ö, ȫ, p, p̦, q, r, ŗ, s, ș, š, t, ț, u, ū, ü, ǖ, v, v̦, y, ȳ, z, z̦, ž
