SAAMI, NORTHERN: a language of Norway

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: LPR

ISO 639-1: se

ISO 639-2: sme

Population	15,000 speakers out of 30,000 to 40,000 population in Norway (1995 M. Krauss). Population total all countries 21,000 to 25,000.
Region	Finnmark, Troms, Nordland, Ofoten. Also spoken in Finland, Sweden.
Alternate names	'NORTHERN LAPPISH', 'NORWEGIAN LAPP', SAAMI, SAME, SAMIC, 'LAPP'
Dialects	RUIJA, TORNE, SEA LAPPISH.
Classification	Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Finno-Permic, Finno-Cheremisic, Finno-Mordvinic, Finno-Lappic, Lappic, Northern.
Comments	Two-thirds of all Saami speak Ruija. The people were formerly called 'Finns', which they consider to be derogatory. The name 'Lapp' is derogatory. Literacy rate in first language: 30% to 60%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. Use in schools is now encouraged. Bible 1895.

Also spoken in:

Finland

Language name	SAAMI, NORTHERN
Population	2,000 speakers out of 3,500 population (1995 M. Krauss).
Alternate names	NORTHERN LAPP, DAVVIN, 'LAPP', SAAME, SAME
Dialects	RUIJA, TORNE, SEA LAPPISH.
Comments	The most widely spoken Saami language in Finland. Literacy rate in first language: 30% to 100%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. Bible 1895. See main entry under Norway.

Sweden

Language name	SAAMI, NORTHERN
Population	4,000 speakers (1995 M. Krauss) out of 5,000 population in Sweden (1994 SIL).
Alternate names	NORWEGIAN SAAMI, 'LAPP', SAAME, SAME, SAMIC, NORTHERN LAPPISH
Dialects	RUIJA, TORNE, SEA LAPPISH.
Comments	Literacy rate in first language: 10% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 75% to 100%. Bible 1895. See main entry under Norway.