Also Known As:
North Fennic, North Finnish, Kven
Dialects & Varieties
The Kven Language: An Overview of a Language in Context
The Kven Language: An Overview of a Language in Context
Severely Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
1,500-10,000 (estimated)
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 4
Less than half of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing at an accelerated pace.
4
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 4
Many of the grandparent generation speak the language, but younger people generally do not.
4
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
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
10,000-50,000 (estimated)
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
Kven Language Council, Norwegian Kven Organisation, Kven Institute in Børselv, Halti Kvenkultursenter in Nordreisa, holidays Baaskifestivalen and Kipparinfestivaale
Location and Context
Countries
Northern Norway
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
Protected by the European Charter for Minority And Regional Languages
Institutional Support
School programs (under the name "Finnish"), several institutes, organizations, festivals
Speakers' Attitude
Increasingly positive
Other Languages Used By The Community
Norwegian, Sámi
Number of Other Language Speakers:
All
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
"Attempts to standardise the Kven language started in 2007, when the Kven Language Council
(språkråd), the language expert body, was established."
(språkråd), the language expert body, was established."
Recent Resources
The collection of links containing texts written in Tornedalen Finnish.
The collection of links containing texts written in Kven.
Karine Jacobsen sings kven writer Alf Nilsen-Børsskog's poem Äitin sanat.