Lithuanian is one of two Baltic languages currently in use, the other being Latvian. Perhaps as many as 4 million people speak Lithuanian as their first language. Linguists generally recognize two main dialects: Aukshtaitish, which is also referred to as High Lithuanian or Aukshtaichiai, and Shamaitish, which is referred to as Low Lithuanian, Zemachiai, Zemaitish, and Samogitian. The progression of political events within the Baltics has had a significant effect on the formation of the Lithuanian language. Lithuanian perhaps suffered most from the policy of "Russification" which from 1864 to 1904 disallowed any printing or teaching of Lithuanian. When Lithuania was an independent republic from 1918 to 1940, about 7,100 books were written in Lithuanian. Lithuania's recent declaration of independence was written in Lithuanian - an important act expressing the nation's newfound linguistic freedom.