Latgaliešu folkloras teksti LFK digitālajā arhīvā garamantas.lv: tekstu normalizēšanas izaicinājumi

The Archives of Latvian Folklore (LFK) is the most extensive repository of Latvian intangible cultural heritage and one of Europe’s largest collections, housing over 3,000,000 folklore items or texts. Among the 2570 LFK collections, at least 360 (or at least 14% of the total) contain texts in the Latgalian language. These collections exhibit a wide array of spellings; for instance, the Latgalian word for “mother” (muote) manifests in at least 17 different ways across LFK manuscripts. This diversity of entries poses challenges for leveraging existing and in-progress digital archive tools like search engines, lists of frequently used words in collections, and word meaning explanations. Recognising the insights gleaned from global digital technology researchers and the evolution of Latgalian written language, the article identifies key challenges in normalising and editing records of Latgalian folklore. The focal point revolves around recognising the nuances of Latgalian expressions and striving for their precise reproduction. The article suggests basic normalisation principles to ensure these texts become fully functional for digital folklore research and citation while conserving their integrity as valuable research sources. These principles derive from an analysis of LFK Latgalian folklore collections and adhere closely to the guidelines established in the 2007-approved rules of Latgalian writing.