Sámilanguage

Sámilanguage is not a single language but a term used to refer to the group of Sámi languages, spoken by the Sámi people in Sápmi, the region traditionally inhabited by Sámi across parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The languages share a common Uralic origin but form separate, largely non-mutually intelligible varieties.

The Sámi language family commonly includes Northern Sámi, Lule Sámi, Pite Sámi, Inari Sámi, Skolt Sámi, and Kildin Sámi, along with smaller varieties. They are characterized by features such as consonant gradation in some dialects, vowel length contrasts, and use of a Latin-based writing system with diacritics and digraphs to represent sounds not found in standard Finnish or Swedish. The orthographies have been standardized in different national contexts, leading to several national varieties.

Geographically, Sámi languages are spoken across Sápmi, with Northern Sámi the most widely used in education and media. Overall speaker numbers are uncertain but tens of thousands, with many languages and dialects endangered or with declining transmission to children. Language maintenance efforts include bilingual education, media programming, dictionaries, orthography reforms, and cultural initiatives.

In policy terms, Sámi languages have varying degrees of official recognition and protection in Norway, Sweden, and Finland; in Russia, smaller Sámi communities maintain use of Kildin Sámi and related varieties. Ongoing revival initiatives aim to increase intergenerational transmission and language visibility, reflecting a broader commitment to sustaining Sámi linguistic and cultural heritage.