Also Known As:
Tornionlaakson Suomi, Torne Valley Finnish, Meän Suomi, Tornedalen Finnish
Dialects & Varieties
- Torne Valley
- Kiruna-‐Jukkasjärvi
- Gällivare
- Pajala
Meänkieli in Sweden: An Overview of a Language in Context
Meänkieli in Sweden: An Overview of a Language in Context
Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
20,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 3
Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.
3
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 2
Used in some non-official domains along with other languages, and remains the primary language used in the home for many community members.
2
Transmission
Transmission 3
Some adults in the community are speakers, but the language is not spoken by children.
3
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
20,000
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
40,000-70,000
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
No results found.
Location and Context
Countries
Border of Finland & Sweden around the Torne Valley
Location Description
Official minority language in the Swedish provinces of Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala, Övertorneå, and Kalix
Government Support
national minority language in Sweden
Institutional Support
STR-‐T (Svenska Tornedalingars Riksförbund – Tornionlaaksolaiset)
Speakers' Attitude
Tornedalian is a regional rather than ethnic identity, with young people considering the language important but not necessary to use.
Since 2005, interest in learning Meänkieli has fallen (based on course enrollment), and has less prestige than Swedish and other major European languages.
Swedish people tend to value monolingualism highly and consider bilingualism as mixed or bastard speaking. Some (though fewer) Finnish people feel the same.
Since 2005, interest in learning Meänkieli has fallen (based on course enrollment), and has less prestige than Swedish and other major European languages.
Swedish people tend to value monolingualism highly and consider bilingualism as mixed or bastard speaking. Some (though fewer) Finnish people feel the same.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Svenska (Swedish), Suomi (Finnish)
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
national majority language
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
Under development since the 1970s by DAUM
Recent Resources
Informative message
No results found.