Saami, Inari
PrintA language of Finland
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Anar, “Finnish Lapp” (pej.), “Inari Lappish” (pej.), “Lapp” (pej.), Saam, Saame, Sámi, Samic
Population
300 (2001 census). 4,700 all Saami in Finland (1995). Ethnic population: 700 (1995 M. Krauss).
Location
Lapland, above 68.00 N latitude, between Lake Inari and Norway border, mostly Utsjoki border town area.
Language Maps
Language Status
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Sodankyla in Lapland, 3 municipalities elsewhere (2003, Sami Language Act No. 1086).
Classification
Language Use
Few children used to learn it before the founding of the first Inari Saami language nest in 1997. Now a substantial portion of youth are growing as functional bilinguals (2007). Also use Finnish [fin]. Schooling is in Finnish.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 30%–100%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. Bible portions: 1903–1980.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script.
Some literature.