In memoriam

Juris Baldunčikas

(1950-11-29–2022-07-27)

JURIS BALDUNČIKAS. Photo by Edgars Zviedrans from commons.wikimedia.org.

The Latvian community of terminologists and linguists has lost a terminologist, lexicographer, educator, and translator, Juris Baldunčikas (Juris Baldunčikės).

After graduating in 1977 from the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the Latvian State University, J. Baldunčikas worked as a researcher—junior researcher (1978–1986) and senior researcher (1986–1989)—at the Institute of Language and Literature of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. He was Deputy Director for Research at the Institute (1990–1992), served as Deputy Director for Research at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (1992–1993), and worked as a project manager as well as a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogy of the University of Latvia (1995–1997). In 1997, he began working at Ventspils University College, where he headed the Department of English Studies and later, until 2014, the Applied Linguistics Centre of that higher education institution.

J. Baldunčikas taught English stylistics and lexicology, terminology, lexicography, sociolinguistics, translation, and other subjects; he supervised bachelor's and master's theses as well as doctoral dissertations.

Based on his dissertation, defended in 1983, J. Baldunčikas prepared the monograph Anglicismi latviešu valodā (Anglicisms in the Latvian Language; 1989), in which he summarized data on borrowings from English and their earliest attestations in Latvian-language sources. He published scholarly articles (mostly on the history and culture of the Latvian language, terminology, language contacts, and translations), and on the terminology of various fields (navigation, sports, linguistics, law,

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Regina Kvašytė | In memoriam Juris Baldunčikas

chemistry, anatomy, energy, and others) and the history of terminology. He compiled 13 dictionaries, including Svešvārdu vārdnīca (Dictionary of Foreign Words; 1999), and also led and carried out important research projects, for example, one on dictionary compilation in Latvia from 1991 to 2010 (Vārnīcu izstrāde Latvijā: 1991–2010; 2012).

J. Baldunčikas was also well known in Lithuania—linguists, especially terminologists, took an interest in his research. He participated in numerous conferences and was a member of the editorial board of the journal Terminologija from 2013 to 2021. In an interview with the journal Gimtoji kalba (No. 12, 2015), he identified the need for the Baltic nations to have coherent terminology as one important factor, discussing the state of terminology in Latvia and issues of interest to Latvian and Lithuanian terminologists. At that time—from 2013 to 2015—he served as chair of the Terminology Commission of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

In addition to his scholarly achievements, in introducing J. Baldunčikas it is worth mentioning his ability to assess situations critically and find logical, reasoned, and sound solutions in difficult circumstances, as well as his characteristic sense of humor. His love of sports (especially basketball) should also be noted, along with his favorite rock band, “The Beatles.” He was a true polymath, interesting and pleasant to talk with; he readily offered professional advice to anyone who asked, and impressed others with his diligence, respect, and humanity in his interactions with everyone.

We cannot disagree with the thought expressed in his colleagues’ obituary that he was one of us... Let us thank fate for the opportunity to pursue the path of scholarship together with J. Baldunčikas, to know him and spend time with him; now that he has departed to the afterlife, let us encourage one another to study his works and draw on them.

Regina Kvašytė

Terminologija | 2022 | 29

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