The Sami language originates from the Finno-Ugric family and
stretches over Northern Europe The language is very descriptive and
nature-based. For example, there are over 300 different words to
describe snow or in a herd of several thousand reindeer, you could
pinpoint one exact reindeer. The language has nine different dialects
for their language and is divided by region. The dialects however are so
far apart from each other, they are almost considered different
languages. For example, a Northern Sami speaker would not be able to
understand anything an Eastern Sami speaker said. Out of the nine
dialects, the three most common branches are Northern/Central Sami,
Eastern Sami, and Southern Sami. Out of these, Northern/Central Sami is
the most common with over 20,700 speakers. The people had come close to
losing their language due to officials discouraging the use of it in
schools and homes; because of this, it was believed to have dropped to
nearly 30% of the population speaking the language. Currently, an
estimated 75% of the Sami population speak a form of the language due
to the creation of a new agency called the Sametinget, who's primary
purpose was to develop the language as well as teach it to the children.
Over the last few decades, Norway, Finland, and Sweden have officially
recognized the language.
1. Southern Sami
2. Ume Sami
3. Pite Sami
4. Lule Sami
5. Northern/Central Sami
6. Skolt Sami
7. Inari Sami
8. Kildin Sami
9. Ter Sami
The
Sami language uses the Latin alphabet, thought the different dialects
use different forms to spell words. The grammar comes mostly from the
Finnish and the syntax mostly influenced by Scandenavians.
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