PHONO-TYPOLOGICAL DISTANCES BETWEEN BALTIC AND SLAVONIC LANGUAGES (Fono-topologicskie rastojanija mezdu baltijskimi i slavjanskimi jazykami)

The application of 'Chi-square' criterion allows us to measure the distan- ces between languages objectlively. The phono-typological distance between Baltic and Slavonic languages was measured. The phono-typological distance between Lithuanian and Latvian languages is much greater than between Lithuanian and Old Russian. The sound picture of Lithuanian is more similar to modern Russian (6,07) than to Latvian. In its turn, Latvian's sound picture is more similar to Old Russian (2,47) than Lithuanian. Latvian is more similar to modern Russian (3,65) than Lithuanian by its sound picture. The closeness of Baltic and Slavonic languages may be explained by the former language unity and by intensive language contacts