Jun 12 2023
The Sami people, inhabiting parts of the Nordic countries and Russia's Kola Peninsula, are known for their distinct culture and languages. Although the term ""Sami languages"" is used to represent the whole linguistic family, there are ten distinct Sami languages. Let's delve deeper into three of them: Northern Sami, Lule Sami, and Southern Sami.
Northern Sami is the most widely spoken of all the Sami languages, with an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 speakers mainly found in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Northern Sami is an official minority language in these three countries and can be studied in schools and universities. Written using an extended Latin alphabet, Northern Sami shares similarities with Finnish and Estonian.
Despite relatively more widespread use and official status, Northern Sami is still at risk of extinction. Initiatives like language nests, where children can interact and learn the language in a safe environment, have been established in the recent years to keep the language alive.
Lule Sami, spoken by approximately 2,000 people, is the second-most spoken Sami language. The majority of its speakers reside in Sweden and Norway, particularly in the Lule River Valley and along the coast of northern Scandinavia. Lule Sami also enjoys the status of an official minority language in these countries and is written using a modified Latin alphabet.
While Lule Sami is taught in some schools and universities, the language is also at risk of extinction due to dwindling numbers of native speakers and limited access to Lule Sami-language resources. However, there have been continued community efforts aimed at preserving and promoting the language.
Southern Sami is spoken by a significantly smaller population, estimated at around 300 to 500 speakers in Norway and Sweden. Despite its status as an official minority language in these countries, the geographical spread of its speakers and limited resources keep the language at high risk of extinction. Southern Sami uses Latin-based orthography and has a dedicated character set.
Efforts to revitalize Southern Sami include the establishment of the AajepLogre Southern Sami language center in Sweden and the Tjåehkere Southern Sami museum and cultural center in Norway. Both institutions are dedicated to promoting Southern Sami culture and language, and provide resources to schools and communities in their efforts to safeguard the language for future generations.
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