Lithuanian and Latvian Literature: Prerequisites for Intercultural Communication

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the context of the cultural ties between Lithuania and Latvia and to discuss the increasing supply of translations of Latvian literature into Lithuanian (and the other way round, of Lithuanian literature into Latvian) with a closer look at the choice of translated material as well as its genres and themes. It analyses how literary translation, a cultural practice that overcomes alienation and prejudices, can contribute to literary (and thus cultural) communication, discovery, and the development of a common Baltic identity. The paper examines the reasons why Latvians may appreciate Lithuanian literature (and vice versa) and the kind of a book that would most likely be chosen for translation: (1) specific works that fill the gaps in the receiving literature, (2) universal stories that deal with common issues, or (3) narratives based on shared experiences that are relatable between the peoples of the neighbouring countries. The paper discusses specific works of Latvian literature already translated into Lithuanian and their impact on the evolution of the literary process, including the importance of the translator’s role in this process. It also provides a bibliography of the novels translated from the Latvian to Lithuanian from 1990 to 2024 and a selection of five translated novels for further reading.
Recently, literary translation has stimulated an increasing level of cultural exchange between Lithuania and Latvia. Publishing houses in the Baltic countries have been focused on profitability and releases of translated works by the same authors, while the translators lack consistency in applying their selection criteria. Because of this, we do not have a panoramic view of the literature written by our neighbours. A high linguistic and cultural equivalence between Latvia and Lithuania is fostering a tradition of mutual understanding between the two countries. Therefore, this paper argues that a high potential for mutual communication is to be found in the literatures of these two nations, as they explore a similar historical situation and actualise shared social memories.