Vaišnienė: Problem with „w”, „q” and „x” still exists, but we won’t change anything

The chairperson of the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language, Daiva Vaišnienė, declared that, due to the original name spelling where non-Lithuanian characters are used, Commission would not make any change in the alphabet.

„The Lithuanian alphabet is approved by the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language,and Commission is not going to expand it or contact it. It will remain in the same state in which it is necessary for the Lithuanian language, and not for other languages” – said Vaišnienė in the parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs.

Some critics of name liberalization express their concerns about such approval, claiming that the Lithuanian alphabet will change, when letters such as „w”, „q” and „x” appear.

„If we want foreign names were consistent with the Lithuanian language, we have to address the Angela Merkel as „Angela Merkelienė” and the Francois Hollande as „Pranciškus Olandus”. I think we all would agree, that name „Wilson” written either by „V” or „W” will never be regarded as the Lithuanian one”- stated the chairperson of the commission.

Paradox, while Commission is aware of the fact that other letters than Lithuanian exist in their alphabet, and confirms to have problems with the assimilation of the foreign names and surnames, still has no intention of doing anything about current dispute. It seems that Commission applies the principle „maybe the problem will solve itself”.