The term Curonian language may refer to two different, but genetically related Baltic languages. The Baltic languages are a group of related languages belonging to the Indo-European language family and spoken mainly in areas extending east and southeast of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. ...

Old Curonian

Traditionally Curonian refers to an extinct language that was spoken by Curonians mainly in Courland peninsula, Western Latvia, and along the nearby Baltic shores. It belonged to the Baltic languages and was closely related to Old Prussian, with some influence from the Livonian language. An extinct language (also called a dead language) is a language which no longer has any native speakers. ... The Curonians (also called Kursi, Latvian Kurši) are one of the extinct Baltic tribes that later formed the Latvian nation. ... Courland (Latvian: Kurzeme, German: Kurland, Polish: Kurlandia, Latin: Curonia / Couronia) is a historical Baltic province now part of Latvia. ... The Baltic languages are a group of related languages belonging to the Indo-European language family and spoken mainly in areas extending east and southeast of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. ... Old Prussian is an extinct Baltic language spoken by the inhabitants of the area that later became East Prussia (now in north-eastern Poland, Lithuania and the Kaliningrad oblast of Russia) prior to Polish and German colonization of the area beginning in the 13th century. ... Livonian (Līvõ kēļ) belongs to the Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric languages. ...

The language disappeared by the 17th century, leaving substrata in Western dialects of Latvian and Lithuanian languages. No written documents in this language are known, but some ancient Lithuanian texts from Western regions show influence of Curonian.

New Curonian

In the process of various migrations of the 14th-17th centuries, Curonians settled in the Curonian Spit and in East Prussia. Their language was heavily influenced by Lithuanian and German respectively, and by the end of 18th century new Curonian dialects had formed, with the dialect of the Curonian Spit being notably distinct, due to its isolation from the mainland. The events of the first half of the 20th century, including Soviet occupation of the Baltic states and, later East Prussia, have led to the near extinction of the language, making it severely endangered. Several remaining language speakers live in Germany, having been expelled in the ethnic cleansing that took place in East Prussia after WWII. The enthusiasts of the Curonian language, Paul Kwauka and Richard Pietsch, have been trying to preserve knowledge about the language. Curonian Spit map The Curonian Spit (Lit. ... East Prussia (German: Ostpreu en; Polish: Prusy Wschodnie; Russian: Восточная Пруссия — Vostochnaya Prussiya) was a province of Kingdom of Prussia, situated on the territory of former Ducal Prussia. ... Baltic states and the Baltic Sea The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a term which nowadays refers to three countries in Northern Europe: Estonia Latvia Lithuania Prior to World War II, Finland was sometimes considered, particularly by the Soviet Union, a fourth Baltic state. ... East Prussia (German: Ostpreu en; Polish: Prusy Wschodnie; Russian: Восточная Пруссия — Vostochnaya Prussiya) was a province of Kingdom of Prussia, situated on the territory of former Ducal Prussia. ... An endangered language is a language with so few surviving speakers that it is in danger of falling out of use. ...

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Baltic states are observing a revival of scientific and cultural interest in the extinct Baltic languages and tribes, including Yotvingian, Curonian, and others. An example is the documentary film Tarp 8 vėjų ("Amidst 8 Winds") by Arturas Barysas about the dwindling Curonian language. The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ... Sudovian burial ground near Suwałki The Yotvingians or Yatvingians, (Latvian: Jātvingi, Lithuanian: Jotvingiai, Polish: Jaćwingowie) are one of the extinct Baltic tribes. ... Documentary film is a broad category of cinematic expression united by the intent to remain factual or non-fictional. ... ArtÅ«ras Barysas Baras (May 10, 1954 — January 28, 2005) was a Lithuanian counter-culture actor, singer, photographer, and filmmaker, known as father of modern Lithuanian avant-garde. ...

References

• Paul Kwauka, Richard Pietsch, Kurisches Wörterbuch, 1977, ISBN 3-921515-03-3
• Richard Pietsch, Deutsch-Kurisches Wörterbuch, 1991, ISBN 3922296602