No small language and literature is safe under the pressure of big languages. According to UNESCO, most of the existing languages are in danger of disappearing by the end of the century.
Languages can be classified according to how endangered they are. Unesco classifies languages as safe / not endangered, vulnerable, definitely endangered, severely endangered, critically endangered and extinct.
Of the Uralic languages, only Hungarian, Finnish and Estonian are safe / not endangered, all others are in danger of dying. Definitely endangered languages are e.g. Northern Sámi, Mordvin, Meadow Mari, Udmurt, Komi, and Karelian.
Severely endangered are e.g. Inari Sámi, Skolt Sámi, Hill Mari and Vepsian. Critically endangered are e.g. Ume Sámi, Pite Sámi, Votic, and Livonian. The Akkala Sámi has already been classified as extinct.
Efforts to save the Baltic Finnic Livonian language began in the early 1990s with the re-independence of Latvia. By then, the children of native Livonian speakers had already had time to merge with the speakers of the dominant language, and the grandchildren no longer learned Livonian as their home language.
Now, when the last native Livonian speakers have died, a small group of Livonian descendants, language enthusiasts and university people speak Livonian and keep the language alive. Livonian literature, in my opinion of a high standard, is still being written and published.
It is also possible to read new Livonian fiction in Finnish. Two years ago, I translated and edited an anthology of contemporary Livonian poetry, Kerran olin taivaan suolajärvi (Aviador).
Current speakers of Livonian have shown that it is possible to keep the language alive, even though there are no native speakers anymore. Not all languages are equally lucky, unfortunately there are many examples of extinct and completely forgotten languages.
We also have an indigenous people in Finland who are in danger of losing their language. Inari Sámi is spoken only in Finland, as also practically Skolt Sámi. Northern Sámi is also spoken in Norway and Sweden.
In total, there are approximately 600–700 speakers of Inari Sámi and Skolt Sámi. They could all fit into the Tavastia club at the same time.
What can we, who are not Sámi, do to save these languages? At least we can show a positive attitude and help the Sámi maintain and develop their own language and culture by making them visible.
Olli Heikkonen
The writer is an author and a member of Finnish PEN’s board.
