Minority languages in Sweden: Meänkieli

In 1809 there is a war between Sweden and Russia. They battle here at Sävar close to Umeå. Sweden loses. But if Sweden loses, what does Russia win? Well, Finland.

The border between Sweden and Finland is drawn here, by the River Torne. Around the River is the Torne River Valley. Finns live there. Now they become Swedes… though they still talk in Finnish. And continue to do this.

The Finnish spoken on the eastern side of the border develops by getting new Finnish words for modern things. But in the Torne River Valley the language keeps its old Finnish words and adds new Swedish words for modern things. The swedish word for towel for example: Handduk Hantukki Pyyhe. So fairly quickly it becomes hard to understand each other across the border. But how come this language still lives on?

That is largely due to this man: Lars Levi Laestadius. Laestadius is a priest in the Swedish church. Having a Sami mother, he speaks Sami and is able to preach to the Sami in their language. Then he tries to learn Finnish, to preach to the Finns in the Torne Valley.. but quickly realises that this is no ordinary Finnish.

So he learns instead, how to preach in the language spoken here. When Laestadius preaches he not only uses a language understandable to the people living in the North of Sweden, he also speaks about things they are familiar with - especially poverty and alcohol abuse. He condemns the use of alcohol, which is a big problem in this part of the country, so many become abstainers. Laestadius also says that the only right way of living is a life without adornments - like curtains - and other ‘modern luxuries’. Which is the kind of life everyone here is already living.

His sermons lead to a new religious movement: Laestadianism. By speaking Torne Valley Finnish in church, this movement helps keep the language alive. In 1842 Sweden introduces a new school law: every child in Sweden must attend school. To begin with, the Torne River Valley kids are educated in their own language. But those in charge believe that all Swedes - in Sweden - ought to speak Swedish.

So from the year 1888 Torne Valley Finnish - and ordinary Finnish - are forbidden in School. Even during breaks! This ban lasts until 1957. But why Torne Valley Finnish? Isn’t the proper name Meänkieli?

Yes it is, in the present day. In the year 2010 the Swedish parliament makes a decision on which languages should be counted as national minority languages. At first, parliament believes that Torne Valley Finnish is to be counted as Finnish. But those who speak the language protest. “It’s a language of its own” they say. “It is our language” And the word for “our language” is... Meänkieli.

So that is why these days we do not say ‘Torne Valley Finnish’, but Meänkieli. And it is counted as one of Sweden’s national minority languages.