Page Type: languageMeänkieli | Ethnologue

FIT ISO 639-3

Meänkieli

Meänkieli Autonym

A language of Sweden

ISO 639
fit
Alternate Names
North Finnish, Torne Valley Finnish, Tornedalen Finnish, Tornedalsfinska
Autonym
Meänkieli
Population
30,000 in Sweden (Parkvall 2009). Total users in all countries: 60,000.
Location:
Norrbotten county: Gällivare, Haparanda, Kiruna, Övertorneå, and Pajala municipalities; Stockholm county: Stockholm; Västerbotten county: Umeå municipality.
Language Status
8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2009, NMNML Act No. 724, Article 6), in administrative area municipalities: Gällivare, Haparanda, Kalix, Kiruna, Luleå, Pajala, Stockholm, Umeå, and Övertoneå.
Classification
Uralic, Finnic
Dialects
Torne Valley Finnish, Vittangi Finnish, Gällivare Finnish. Finnish [fin] not totally intelligible to speakers, especially abstract and complex discourse.
Typology
SVO; postpositions; genitives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; question word initial.
Language Use
Older adults only. Positive attitudes. Shifted to Swedish [swe]. Also use Finnish [fin].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 20%–30%. Literature. Periodicals. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1993–1995. Agency: Swedish Tornedalian Association.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Meänkieli
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Some speakers refer to it as Finnish. Influences from Swedish [swe]. Finnish speakers settled here 12th century. Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Meänkieli
User Population
30,000 in Finland (1997 B. Winsa).
Location
Lapland region: Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tonio, and Ylitonio western municipalities.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
View other languages of Finland

Map

Location: Norrbotten county: Gällivare, Haparanda, Kiruna, Övertorneå, and Pajala municipalities; Stockholm county: Stockholm; Västerbotten county: Umeå municipality.