Karelian language revitalization programs

About the language

The Karelian language is an endangered language spoken in Russia and in Finland. In total, there are about 100 000 speakers, most of whom reside in Russia. Karelian has several dialects which do not share a written form. Karelian is the closest relative of the Finnish language, and should not be mixed with the "Karelian" dialects of Finnish spoken mainly in the Eastern part of Finland (see map).

Current state and resources

E. V. Ahtia has written on the grammar and phonology. There is an online dictionary. Since 2015, there have been radio programs in the Karelian language.[2]

Standardization of the written forms

Revitalization projects

Karjalan kielen ja kulttuurin elvytyshanke (Revitalization program of the Karelian language and culture) of Karjalan kielen seura (Society of the Karelian language)

• Coordinator: Heini Karjalainen
• Received monetary support from the Finnish goverment in 2019 for that year
• Reached its goals

University of Eastern Finland

• The Government's Language policy program 2022 (Kielipoliittinen ohjelma: Valtioneuvoston periaatepäätös)
  • languages, other than the national languages, spoken in Finland
  • mentioning Karelian language with an emphasis on children and the youth
  • Ministry of Education and Culture (Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, OKM)
  • duration: 2021-22
  • The University of Eastern Finland received support for the revitalization program from the state of Finland and keeps a blog on the project. It is also possible to take courses on the language at the university
  • the war on Ukraine has frozen cooperation with Russian organisations
• mostly online due to the pandemic
• Karjalan Sivistysseura has published works in Karelian

Community

• The Karjalazet Nuoret Suomes (Karelian youth in Finland) Society have done a video with spoken Karelian.
• active meetings