Finnish, Kven
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A language of Norway
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Kven, North Finnish
Population
1,500 (Laakso et al 2013).
Location
Troms and Finnmark counties: Ruija, Kveeniland; Tromso; Oteren, Skibotn, Storslett, Kvaenangsbotn, Nordreisa, Alta, Borselv, Neiden, Bygoynes, and Vadso.
Language Maps
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Dialects
Considered Old Finnish, speakers of Tornedalen [fit] and Kven recognize the differences between the two. Standard Finnish [fin] speakers generally understand, except some vocabulary. Reportedly more similar to Tornedalen Finnish than to standard Finnish. Various dialects: northwest coast varieties differ from east. Kven integrates Norwegian [nor] loans, whereas Tornedalen has integrated Swedish [swe] loans.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Over 90% in Finnish [fin]. Taught in schools 3 hours a week. Newspapers.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Christian.