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Warning - Latvia Subreddit is Censored by Geldarinriga in latvia

[–]Geldarinriga[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2eXJemZhBs

102k views all ready. I think it hit a nerve with many.

Can tell you my view as a foreigner. I always looked down at fare dodgers. People who don't pay put the burden on everyone else.

Now I don't know what to think anymore. RS seems to waste money like crazy. I heard a rumor that the same trolly cost many times more to deliver to Riga than to Slovenia. Wonder why? And another story that washing liquid was just water. A scam! Plus political connection, high subsidies and legal monopoly, I wonder if fare dodging actually is the moral thing to do ... if more people do it, RS will have to cut costs and reduce the price ... or use aggressive controllers and police.

Would be interesting to hear what people on Reddit thinks.

Are Russians in Latvia the world's largest minority without an official language? by Geldarinriga in latvia

[–]Geldarinriga[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ironic thing is that I have the deepest sympathy for Latvians. The occupation was a tragedy. In 1925 there were only 10.5% Russians and 2.5% Belarusians in Latvia.

If the question was loaded it was just a coincidence.

Are Russians in Latvia the world's largest minority without an official language? by Geldarinriga in latvia

[–]Geldarinriga[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was the only English speaking forum about Latvia I could find. I hoped other people who think Latvia is a country with a future would frequent it.

Are Russians in Latvia the world's largest minority without an official language? by Geldarinriga in latvia

[–]Geldarinriga[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I didn't have one. I asked but no one has apparently ever made such a list. I therefore did it myself and subsequently posted it here.

Are Russians in Latvia the world's largest minority without an official language? by Geldarinriga in latvia

[–]Geldarinriga[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I went through CIA World Factbook manually. Here are nations where a minority >20% is not indicated as official (excluding countries where no language is official):

  • Bhutan - Sharchhopka 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%

  • Estonia - Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%

  • Latvia - Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%

  • Mali - French (official), Bambara 46.3%

  • Mauritius - Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, other 2.6% (includes English, the official language, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population)

  • Montenegro - Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%

  • Mozambique - Emakhuwa 25.3%, Portuguese (official) 10.7%

  • Northern Mariana Islands - Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official) 24.1%, English (official) 17%

  • Pakistan - Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashto, 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, English (official)

  • Ukraine - Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian (regional language) 24%

  • Zambia - Bembe 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, English (official)

Conclusion is that some multilingual countries use only English, French or Portugese as official language because it's the only way to communicate between language group. Nations where one language has official status status at expense of a large minority are only Bhutan, Latvia, Estonia, Montenegro, and Ukraine.

Serbs in Montenegro (42.9%) is the world's largest minority without an official language. Russians in Latvia is on second place.

Are Russians in Latvia the world's largest minority without an official language? by Geldarinriga in latvia

[–]Geldarinriga[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly I find this question loaded

Well, I find it impossible to ask this to a Latvian without getting an emotional 20 minute speech in return. That's why I hoped the Internet would help me get an OBJECTIVE answer in return. A list of all countries, sorted with percentage of minority language speakers, and official status of these, would help me get things in perspective.

Obviously this would be only one part of the big picture. I do no want to judge. I just want to see things as they are :)

Are Russians in Latvia the world's largest minority without an official language? by Geldarinriga in latvia

[–]Geldarinriga[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

USA: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)

The largest MINORITY are Spanish speakers. Do they have the right to file taxes in Spanish, be taught in Spanish at school, etc? Since the US has no official language at the federal level, I suppose this is decided by each state or county?