Language Situation and Language Policy in Latvia and in Lithuania

Firstly, it should be noted that the two languages have a common linguistic background. Both belong to the Baltic group of the Indo-European family of languages.
What are now the territories of Latvia and Lithuania in the 19th century till the early 20th century were a part of the Russian Empire. Also the German gentry took a great interest in both countries’ lands and later became an occupant over Latvia and Lithuania. There are several nations and their languages that have had a direct contact with Latvia and its inhabitants, starting from the Livonian language, then Latvia’s occupants throughout the time (Polish, Swedish, Russian, German) to the neighbouring countries that surround Latvia (Estonian, Russian, Lithuanian, Belarusian), thus Russian and German languages being the ones with the greatest influence over Latvian language throughout the years and being the ones who have played a great sociolinguistic roles in everyday lives of Latvians and those who lived within the territory of Latvia.…