Meänkieli facts for kids

Meänkieli (say "Mee-an-kee-eh-lee") is a special language spoken in the northern parts of Sweden. It's sometimes called "Tornedalian Finnish" because it's spoken in the River Torne valley, a region that borders Finland. This language is officially recognized as a minority language in Sweden.

Meänkieli is part of the Finno-Ugric language family. It's closely related to Finnish, but it has also been greatly influenced by Swedish over many years. Because of this, some people think of it as a mix of Finnish and Swedish.

Understanding Meänkieli

Meänkieli means "our language." It is spoken by people living in the Torne Valley, which is located above the Arctic Circle. This area is unique because it's right on the border between Sweden and Finland.

How Meänkieli Developed

For a long time, Swedish was the main language taught in schools in the Torne Valley. This meant that many people grew up speaking both Finnish and Swedish. They could usually write in Swedish, but not always in Finnish. Over time, the Swedish language changed Meänkieli quite a bit. Today, many younger people in the area mostly speak Swedish.

Meänkieli's Official Status

Since 1999, Meänkieli has been an official minority language in Sweden. This means it has special protection and support from the government. It helps keep the language alive and ensures it can be used in schools and public services.

Who Speaks Meänkieli?

It's hard to know exactly how many people speak Meänkieli. Sweden doesn't keep official records of how many people speak different native languages. Also, some people think Meänkieli is just a dialect of Finnish, while others see it as its own language. This makes counting speakers even more difficult. Experts estimate that between 40,000 and 70,000 people might speak Meänkieli.

See also

In Spanish: Idioma meänkieli para niños