Žymioji latvių terminologė Valentīna Skujiņa

The renowned Latvian terminologist Valentīna Skujiņa SOLVITA LABANAUSKIENĖ Institute of the Lithuanian Language On October 2, 1937, in Riga, in Ilgakiemis (Ilģuciems), the future Latvian linguist and terminologist Valentīna Skujiņa was born. The linguist’s path may have been shaped already during her school years, when greater attention was paid to language. Indeed, in childhood V. Skujiņa developed a love of literature, especially Latvian folk tales and legends, and in later years of the Latvian poet J. Rainis, the writers R. Blaumanis and the Kaudzīte brothers, and foreign authors R. Tagore, E. Hemingway, and others. The folk songs and dances cherished in her family strengthened her ties to Latvian language traditions. The humanities attracted V. Skujiņa, and in 1955 she became a student at the Faculty of Philology of the Latvian State University. While studying, in 1959 she began working in the Language and Literature (formerly Grammar) Division of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LMA), later in its Latvian Language Sector. In the early 1960s, she was invited to work as scientific secretary of the LMA Terminology Commission. From then on, terminology became V. Skujiņa’s principal object of scientific research. In 1969 she defended her candidate’s dissertation (recognized as a doctorate in 1992), The Formation of Terms in Technical Sciences in Latvian. 216 Solvita Labanauskienė | Žymioji latvių terminologė Valentīna Skujiņa In 1977 she began heading the Terminology and Language Culture Group, and in 1992 the Terminology Department (Radītājs 1997: 7). The linguist’s research interests include the science and practice of terminology, the formation of scientific and technical terms, international term elements, especially components of Latin and Greek origin, the organization of terminology work, language culture, and more. She is the author of several significant Latvian-language books intended for practical instruction: Understanding the State Language in Office Documents (Valsts valodas prasmei lietvedības dokumentos, 1993); Examples of Business Correspondence (Lietiško rakstu paraugi, 1998); Latvian in Business Documents (Latviešu valoda lietiškajos rakstos, 1999); Dictionary of Latin- and Greek-Origin Word Parts (Latīņu un grieķu cilmes vārddaļu vārdnīca, 1999). Her most important monograph appeared in 1993: Principles for the Development of Latvian Terminology (Latviešu terminoloģijas izstrādes principi); a second, revised and expanded edition was published in 2002. This is the first monograph devoted to Latvian terminology, bringing together forty years of experience working in the LMA Terminology Commission. Articles important to the history of terminology include those on J. Endzelīns and R. Grabis (the scholar translated his articles from Russian as well), on compound words in Mancelis’s dictionaries, and V. Skujiņa’s translation from Russian, together with her co-translator L. Voitkeviča, of a book by the Liepāja-born scholar E. Drezen, The Internationalization of Scientific and Technical Terminology (Zinātniskās un tehniskās terminoloģijas internacionalizācija, 2002). In total, V. Skujiņa’s publications number close to one thousand! Since 1999, V. Skujiņa has chaired the LMA Terminology Commission. Her substantial contribution to practical language work is important here, including the creation of neologisms (programmatura, tirgzinība, tiešraide), the search for equivalents of international words, and other no less important work, all in keeping with the principles of J. Endzelīns, the most renowned researcher of the Latvian language. Academician V. Skujiņa received the J. Endzelīns Award for her contributions to Latvian terminology and the development of its principles. She is not only chair of the Terminology Commission but also a language consultant to the subcommissions on Energy Terminology, Information Technology, Legal Terminology, Chemistry and Chemical Technology Terminology, Military Terminology, and Motor Vehicle Terminology. Naturally, a specialist with such a broad range of expertise is also co-author of numerous terminological dictionaries. Work begets work: organizing language weeks, serving on the State Language Commission, teaching at the University of Latvia, conferences Terminologija | 2007 | 14 217 Preparing and getting ready for them, supervising student work—all this is part of terminologist V. Skuji̇na’s daily life. The Latvian scholar regularly takes part not only in national conferences but also in various international conferences and congresses (in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Graz, Omsk, Stockholm, Vienna, Warsaw, etc.). Academician V. Skujiņa has strong ties with Lithuania and Vilnius. She is a regular guest and speaker at conferences, a consultant to doctoral students at the Institute of the Lithuanian Language, the author of articles important to linguistics published in Baltistika, Terminologija, and elsewhere, and a member of the editorial board of the journal published by the Terminology Centre of the Institute of the Lithuanian Language. A habilitated doctor of philology, full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, researcher at the Latvian Language Institute of the University of Latvia, professor at Liepāja Pedagogical Academy, head of the Terminology Department of the LU LMA, and holder of many other prestigious titles, she has not gone unrecognized in her own country: since 1998, the Latvian Academy of Sciences and AB “Grindeks” have established annual awards and prizes for Latvian scholars whose outstanding work and lifetime contributions merit recognition. In 2007, V. Skujiņa received the “Grindeks” award. Understanding that the fruits of a linguist’s labor have never been sweet, and knowing that not every Latvianized form will ever take root—some will catch on immediately, while others will not stick for any amount of money—V. Skuji̇na remains faithful to language, the spirit of the nation (Diena 1999). On the occasion of a most beautiful 70th year! LITERATŪRA Diena 1999: Nestādīsim cilvēktiesības naidīgā pretmetā valodai. – Diena 15, februāris. Rādītājs 1997: LZA korespondētājlocekle dr. habil. philol. Valentina Skujiņa: bibliografiskais rādītājs. Sastādītāja M. Kīrite, Rīga. Gauta 2007-12-12 Solvita Labanauskienė Lietuvių kalbos institutas P. Vileišio g. 5, LT-10308 Vilnius E. paštas [email protected] 2 1 8 Solvita Labanauskienė | Žymioji latvių terminologė Valentīna Skujiņa