Foreign Names in Formal Writing
In Latvian, a foreign name is written the way it sounds, with a Latvian ending. Formal texts may add the original spelling in brackets: Viljams Šekspīrs (William Shakespeare).
How It Works
1. Latvian form first. Latvian writes foreign names by sound, with Latvian letters and endings (see foreign names with Latvian endings). The original spelling can follow in round brackets:
- Viljams Šekspīrs (William Shakespeare)
- Šarls Dipons (Charles Dupont)
- Gēte (Goethe)
2. Where you see it. Encyclopedias, textbooks, research articles and careful news reports add the bracket so readers can find the person in other languages. Everyday texts about famous people often leave it out.
3. Only the Latvian form changes. The Latvian name takes the case the sentence needs, but the bracket stays exactly as in the original: Viljama Šekspīra (William Shakespeare) lugas (William Shakespeare's plays). Here Šekspīra is genitive (see the genitive before a noun).
4. First mention only. After the first mention, the text uses just the Latvian form: Šekspīrs sarakstīja traģēdiju „Hamlets”.
5. Not instead of the Latvian form. In a Latvian sentence, the original spelling does not replace the Latvian form. It only follows it in brackets.
Examples (5)
- Viljams Šekspīrs (William Shakespeare) dzimis 1564. gadā.
William Shakespeare was born in 1564.
Reference style: the original spelling follows in brackets at first mention.
- Mēs lasām Viljama Šekspīra (William Shakespeare) lugas.
We are reading William Shakespeare's plays.
Šekspīra is genitive, but the name in brackets does not change.
- Konferencē runāja Šarls Dipons (Charles Dupont).
Charles Dupont spoke at the conference.
- Šo dzejoli sarakstīja Gēte (Goethe).
Goethe wrote this poem.
- Šekspīrs sarakstīja traģēdiju „Hamlets”.
Shakespeare wrote the tragedy Hamlet.
Later in a text, only the Latvian form is used.
Common Mistakes
Using only the original spelling in a Latvian sentence.
Mēs lasām William Shakespeare lugas.Mēs lasām Viljama Šekspīra (William Shakespeare) lugas.In standard written Latvian the name must have its Latvian form so that it can take a case ending. The original spelling can only be added in brackets.
Adding Latvian endings inside the brackets.
Mēs lasām Viljama Šekspīra (Williama Shakespeara) lugas.Mēs lasām Viljama Šekspīra (William Shakespeare) lugas.The bracket shows the name exactly as it is spelled in the original language, so it never takes a Latvian ending.
Putting the bracket first.
(William Shakespeare) Viljams Šekspīrs dzimis 1564. gadā.Viljams Šekspīrs (William Shakespeare) dzimis 1564. gadā.The Latvian form comes first because it is part of the sentence; the bracket follows it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Formal and reference writing can add the original spelling in brackets after the Latvian form of a foreign name.
Related Patterns
- Possession With the Genitive
The Latvian form declines, as in Šekspīra lugas.
Level 2 - Capital Letters
Both the Latvian form and the original start with capital letters.
Level 2 - Surnames for Men and Women
The Latvian form of a surname shows gender with its ending.
Level 3 - Nouns That Never Change
Some foreign names ending in -o, -i or -u stay unchanged, but the bracket rule is the same.
Level 3 - Official Style
Brackets with original spellings belong to the formal and reference style.
Level 6
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