| Kven | |
|---|---|
| Ruija dialects | |
| kvääni, kainu | |
| Native to | Norway |
Native speakers | 2,000–8,000 (2005?)[1] |
| Official status | |
Recognised minority language in | |
| Regulated by | Kven language board |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | fkv |
| Glottolog | kven1236 |
| ELP | Kven Finnish |
 | |
Kven (kvääni or kväänin kieli; kainu or kainun kieli;[2] Finnish: kveeni or kveenin kieli; Norwegian: kvensk) is a Finnic language or a group of Finnish dialects spoken in the northernmost parts of Norway by the Kven people. For political and historical reasons, it received the status of a minority language in 2005 within the framework of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. However, it is seen by some as a mutually intelligible dialect of the Finnish language, and grouped together with the Peräpohjola dialects such as Meänkieli, spoken in Torne Valley in Sweden. While it is often considered a dialect in Finland, it is officially recognized as a minority language in Norway and many Kven consider it a separate language.[3]
There are about 1,500 to 10,000 known native speakers of this language, most of whom are over the age of 60. Middle-aged speakers tend to have a passing knowledge of the language. They use it occasionally, but not frequently enough to keep it off the endangered list. People under the age of 30 rarely speak or know the language. However, children in the community of Børselv can learn Kven in their primary schools.[4]
- ^ "Kainun Institutti". Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
- ^ Söderholm, Eira (2017). Kvensk grammatikk [A Grammar of Kven] (in Norwegian). Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISBN 9788202569655.
- ^ Söderholm, Eira. "Kainulaiset eli kväänit". Kainun Institutti – Kvensk Institutt (in Kven). Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Did you know Kven Finnish is severely endangered?". Endangered Languages. Retrieved 30 April 2017.