Itäänlänteens

Itäänlänteens is a Finnish term that translates to "Eastern Finnish" and refers to a specific dialect group within the Finnish language. These dialects are spoken in the eastern parts of Finland, broadly encompassing regions like North Karelia, South Karelia, and parts of Savonia.

The Itäänlänteens dialects are characterized by several linguistic features that distinguish them from other Finnish dialects, particularly those in the west. Common traits include the use of diphthongs where other dialects might have monophthongs, and certain vowel harmony patterns that differ. For example, words that end in a back vowel in standard Finnish might retain a back vowel in the final syllable of words in Itäänlänteens dialects, whereas other dialects might have assimilated a front vowel.

Historically, these eastern dialects have been influenced by their proximity to Slavic languages, particularly Russian. This influence can be observed in some vocabulary and, to a lesser extent, in grammatical structures. However, the core of the Itäänlänteens dialects remains distinctly Finnic.

While the influence of standard Finnish has led to a decline in the active use of many distinct dialectal features, particularly in urban areas, Itäänlänteens dialects still represent a significant part of Finland's linguistic heritage. They are studied by linguists interested in the historical development and regional variations of the Finnish language. The term itself is sometimes used in contrast to Lännenlänteens, or "Western Finnish," which encompasses the dialects spoken in western Finland.