Žymioji latvių terminologė Valentīna Skujiņa

216 Solvita Labanauskienė | The Valentīna Skujiņa The famous Latvian terminologist Valentīna Skujiņa soLvitA LABANAUsKiENĖ Institute of Lithuanian Language The path of the future linguist was determined perhaps even in school days, when in Riga, Ilgakiemis (Iļģuciems). more attention was paid to language. It is true that the Latvian linguist, terminologist Valentīna Skujiņa was born on October 2, 1937 as a child, V. Skujiņa was already fond of literature, especially Latvian folk tales and legends, and in later years – Latvian poet J. Rainis, writers R. Blaumanis, Kaudzīši brothers, foreign authors R. Tagore, E. Hemingway and others. The Latvian language traditions were strengthened by the family’s favourite folk songs and dances. Humanities attracted V. Skujiņa and in 1955 she became a student of the Faculty of Philology of the Latvian State University. In 1959 she began working in the Department of Language and Literature (formerly Grammar) of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LMA), later in the Latvian language sector. In the early 1970s, she was invited to work as the scientific secretary of the LMA Terminology Commission. Since then, terminology has become the main object of scientific research for V. Skujiņa. In 1969 she defended her candidate dissertation (nostrified as a doctorate in 1992) on the topic of the formation of technical science terms in Latvian. famous Latvian terminologist Terminology | 2007 | 14 217 In 1977 he became head of the Terminology and Language Culture Group, and in 1992 he became head of the Terminology Section (Rādītājs 1997: 7). The focus of the linguist’s research is on terminology science and practice, the composition of scientific and technical terms, international elements of terms, especially Latin and Greek components, organization of terminology work, language culture, etc. She is the author of several important Latvian language books for practical training: State Language Understanding in Written Documents (Valsts valodas izpratne lietvedības dokumentos, 1993); Examples of practical writing (Lietišķo rakstu paraugi, 1998); Latvian in practical writings (Latviešu valoda lietišķajos rakstos, 1999); The Latin and Greek word parts dictionary (1999). The most important monograph appeared in 1993 – Principles of Latvian Terminology Management (Latviešu terminoloģijas izstrādes principi), the second revised and supplemented edition was published in 2002. This is the first monograph on Latvian terminology, which combines forty years of experience in the LMA Terminology Commission. The articles on J. Endzelins, R. Grabis (his articles were also translated from Russian by the researcher), on stitches in Mancelis’ dictionaries, as well as the book of E. Drezens, a scientist born in Liepaja, translated from Russian by V. Skujiņa together with co-author L. Voitkeviča, Internationalization of Science and Technology Terminology (Zinātniskās un tehniskās terminoloģijas internacionalizacija, 2002), are important for the history of terminology. In total, the number of V. Skujiņa’s publications reaches nearly a thousand positions! Since 1999, V. Skujiņa has been chair of the LMA Terminology Commission. Her contribution to the field of language practice, the creation of new products (software, tirgzinība, tiešraide), the search for international equivalents of words and other equally important works, which correspond to the principles of the most famous Latvian language researcher J. Endzelīns, is important here. Academician V. Skujiņa was awarded the J. Endzelīna Award for her work on terminology of Latvian language and its principles. She is not only the chairperson of the Terminology Commission, but also the language consultant of the subcommissions of Energy Terminology, Information Technology, Legal Terminology, Chemistry and Chemical Technology Terminology, Military Terminology, Motor Vehicles Terminology. Understandably, a specialist of such a broad profile is also a co-author of numerous dictionaries of terms. Darbas gena darbą: kalbos savaičių organizavimas, veikla Valstybinės kalbos komisijoje, pedagoginis darbas Latvijos universitete, konferencijų 218 Solvita Labanauskienė | The renowned Latvian terminologist Valentīna works – all this is the everyday life of the terminologist V. Skujiņa. The Latvian researcher regularly participates not only in national, 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 of conferences and speaker, consultant of doctoral students of the Lithuanian Language Institute, author of important articles for linguistics published in “Baltistika”, “Terminologija” and others, member of the editorial board of the journal published by the LKI Terminology Center. habilituota filologijos daktarė, LMA tikroji narė, Latvijos universiteto Latvių kalbos instituto mokslininkė, Liepojos pedagoginės akademijos profesorė, LU LMA Terminologijos skyriaus vadovė ir daugybės kitų garbingų titulų turėtoja nelieka neįvertinta savoje šalyje: nuo 1998 m. LMA ir AB „Grindeks“ steigia kasmetinius apdovanojimus ir premijas daugiausia pasižymėjusiems Latvijos mokslininkams už iškilią veiklą, amžiaus indėlį. In 2007, she was awarded the Grindeks Award. Understanding that the fruits of linguistic work have not always been sweet, and knowing that all assimilations will never grow: there will be those who stick immediately, and those who do not stick for no money, V. Skujiņa continues to remain faithful to the language – the spirit of the nation (Diena 1999). 70th anniversary of the most beautiful year! LITTERACY Day 1999: Don’t make human rights a hostile counterpart to language. – Day 15, February. Indicator 1997: Corresponding member of LSA dr. habil. philol. Valentina Skujiņa: bibliographical indicator. Compiler M. Kīrīte, Riga, Latvia. Retrieved 2007-12-12. Solvita Labanauskienė Institute of Lithuanian Language P. Vileišio g. 5, LT-10308 Vilnius, Lithuania Email: [email protected] Skujiņa Preparation and preparation for them, supervision of student