Latvian and Lithuanian

Skippy   Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:42 am GMT
I'm almost sure this has been discussed before, but I wanted to ask: to what degree are these languages mutually intelligible? Thanks!
Balt   Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:44 pm GMT
When a Latvian reads a Lithuanian text, she could guess some words, nothing more.
I don't know how much a Lithuanian would understand Latvian.
Leasnam   Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:49 pm GMT
<<When a Latvian reads a Lithuanian text, she could guess some words, nothing more.
I don't know how much a Lithuanian would understand Latvian. >>

Would you say then that the relatability between the two languages would be similar to that of English and German?
suomalainen   Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:52 am GMT
The distance between Latvian and Lithuanian could be something like the distance between English and German. German (especially Low German) is closer to the Proto-Germanic language, like Lithuanian is closer to the Proto-Baltic language. English has changed due to the impact of Latin, French and even Celtic languages, Latvian has changed due to the impact of German, Livonian and Estonian.
Skippy   Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:02 pm GMT
Thanx a lot! :)
Lat   Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:56 pm GMT
And Lithuanian, even though it's more conservative than Latvian, has been influenced a lot by Slavic languages, especially Polish.
Skippy   Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:59 pm GMT
Many thanks !!! ;) ;) ;)
Skippy   Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:56 pm GMT
Those lasts two posts were not me. But yeah, thanks.
Candy   Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:17 am GMT
The two languages are different.
Skippy   Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:00 am GMT
Thank You! I love You Candy! :)