Finnish, Tornedalen
A language of Sweden
| Population | 79,600 in Sweden (2000). 40,000 to 70,000 in the main region (1997), and including 20,000 who speak it in the home (1996). Population total all countries: 109,600. |
| Region | Northeast, Norrbotten County, Gällivare, Kiruna, Pajala, Övertorneä, and Haparanda municipalities. Also in Finland. |
| Language map |
Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden |
| Alternate names | Meänkieli, North Finnish, Torne Valley Finnish, Tornedalen, Tornedalsfinska |
| Dialects | Torne Valley Finnish, Vittangi Finnish, Gällivare Finnish. Standard Finnish [fin] not totally intelligible to speakers, especially abstract and complex discourse. |
| Classification | Uralic, Finnic |
| Language use | Swedish Tornedalian Association with 5,000 members. Many Saami speak as L2. Mainly older adults. Positive attitude. Also use Swedish [swe] or Standard Finnish [fin]. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L1: 20%–30%. Magazines. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1993–1995. |
| Comments | Some speakers refer to it as ‘Finnish’. Influences from Swedish [swe]. Finnish speakers settled here in 12th century. SVO; postpositions; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; question word initial. Christian. |
Also spoken in:
Finland
| Language name | Finnish, Tornedalen |
| Population | 30,000 in Finland (1997 B. Winsa). |
| Language map |
Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden |
Ethnologue: Web |
Ethnologue: Print |
Bibliography |
Publications Catalog |
Software |
Email Updates
Who we are |
Shopping cart |
Site search |
Site map |
Home
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | External links
Copyright © 2012 SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics)
