Sámi languages

The Sámi languages are Uralic languages with about 24,500 speakers in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The area traditionally inhabited by the Sámi people is known as Sápmi in North Sámi, Saemie in South Sámi and Sameland in Norwegian and Swedish. The Sámi languages are divided into two groups: Western and Eastern, and there are various subdivisions within each group. The Sámi languages were formerly known as Lapp, but that name is now considered derogatory.

Mutual intelligibility

There is quite a lot of mutual intelligibility between neighbouring Sámi languages, however speakers of more widely separated languages cannot understand one another without learning or extensive exposure to the other language.

Official status

Norway

In Norway Sámi languages have offical status in the counties of Finnmark and Troms, and in the municipalities of Kautokeino, Karasjok, Gáivuotna (Kåfjord), Nesseby, Porsanger, Tana, Tysfjord, Lavangen and Snåsa.

Sweden

Since 2002 Sámi languages have been recognised as minority languages in Sweden and have official status in Arjeplog, Gällivare, Jokkmokk and Kiruna municipalities. In these areas they can be used in government agencies, courts, pre-schools and nursing homes.

Finland

North Sámi, Skolt Sámi and Inari Sámi are offically recognised in Finland and Sámi people have the right to use Sámi languages for all government services. Sámi languages have offical status in the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari, Sodankylä and Utsjoki.

Russia

The Sámi people are recognised as an indigenous people in the Russian Federation, however their languages have no official status.

Written languages

The first Sámi language to be used extensively in writing was Ume Sámi: an Ume Sámi translation of the New Testament was first published in 1755, and a complete translation of the bible in 1811.

Six of the nine living Sámi languages currently have standard written forms:

North Sámi (davvisámegiella / sámegiella), a Western Sámi language spoken by about 15,000 people in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Lule Sámi (julevsámegiella), a Western Sámi language with about 1,500 speakers in Norway and Sweden
South Sámi (åarjelsaemien gïele), a Western Sámi language with around 600 speakers in Sweden and Norway.
Inari Sámi (anarâškielâ), an Eastern Sámi language with about 500 speakers in Finland.
Skolt Sámi (sää'mǩiõll / nuõrttsää'm), an Eastern Sámi language with about 400 speakers in Finland and Russia.
Kildin Sámi (кӣллт са̄мь кӣлл), an Eastern Sámi language spoken in the Kola peninsula of Russia by about 600 people.

The other Sámi languages are:

Pite Sámi (Bidumsámegiella), a Western Sámi language with about 25-50 speakers in Sweden.
Ume Sámi, a Western Sámi language spoken in Norway and Sweden by about 10 people.
Ter Sámi (saa'mekiill), an Eastern Sámi language spoken in Russia by 2 people.

Tower of Babel in North and South Sámi