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https://www.hf.uio.no/iln/english/research/news-and-events/news/2024/to-long-for-a-language.html>
"Many Sámi, Kvens and Forest Finns experience grief over not mastering the
language that ties them to their own people. An increasing number are now
trying to reclaim their language.
“Many mourn the language they did not get to learn, but they also feel that
they should be able to speak it, because indigenous and minority languages are
so closely tied to their history. Many are also afraid of being corrected by
those who speak the language fluently,” says linguist Pia Lane.
Lane was one of the members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that
presented its report to the Norwegian Parliament in 2023. The commission’s
mandate was to investigate the consequences of the assimilation policies on the
Sámi, Kvens, and Forest Finns.
The report highlights, among other things, the importance of language as an
identity marker and cultural bearer. Part of the mandate was to bring personal
experiences and stories to light, and several of the young people who shared
their stories used the term "language grief".
“Many adults and young people experience language grief, which means a longing
for a language they never got to learn, and the desire for a language they can
identify with and that connects them to their family,” the report states.
But things are changing now, Lane explains.
“Many are learning Sámi or Kven and starting to actively use the languages at
home.”
She also believes that it has a strong signalling effect that it was the
country's highest political body, the Storting, that commissioned the report."
Via Christoph S.
Cheres,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
