I am starting a new struggle. 'Let's do without davaj.' This was a typical phrase of my mother whenever someone suggested something like that, - writes actress Zane Burnicka on her FB page.
My sons were very upset if this word was pronounced in my presence, and they recalled their grandmother's reproaches. And now I will justify my position today: if we, as patriots of our country and land, cannot express ourselves in our own language and instead use atavisms from a hostile country, then essentially we are already occupied. I always correct when I hear something like that. Quietly, but I correct. My hairdresser and manicurist especially feel this. And I know that many are annoyed by my corrections, but I will not calm down. And I was very pleased when my friends' children supported me and asked what to replace this stupid 'davai' with. Please: 'aiziet!', 'aidā!', 'lai notiek!', 'lai top!'. Surely there are more options. Suggest them! In the comments, some supported the actress, while others ironized: 'There are always problems to find and fight against. You just have to want it.' 'And if a young man uses more English words than Latvian in a conversation, that's okay. He speaks Latvian!!!' 'Yes, yes. One of my acquaintances is a member of the National Alliance, a patriot to the core, but it would be good if there was only one filler word in his vocabulary. Russian swear words are very popular in his lexicon.' 'RECOMMENDATION: Latvians, if you have lived abroad or still live there, please do not use English words that can easily be found in the Latvian language. Why? Because using English words when you are not speaking the entire text in English makes you sound limited and very stupid. Using English words is the same as using Russian ones. Speak in one language, even if with an accent or not so brilliantly, but in one (any).' 'Of course, 'davaj' is a borrowing from the Russian language, but I don't think it's the biggest problem. Our linguists have been arguing for years about the meanings of the words 'office', 'bureau', and 'cabinet' (sorry, but this word in French originally meant a place for physical relief, gradually changing its semantics in the French language). 'Davaj' in the Latvian language has acquired such a multifaceted meaning that it is unlikely to be eradicated without offering some single comprehensive Latvian word in its place.
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