Alternate Names: Kven, North Finnish
Dialects: Considered Old Finnish, speakers of Tornedalen , and Kven recognize the differences between the two. Standard Finnish , speakers generally understand, except some vocabulary. Reportedly more similar to Tornedalen Finnish than to standard Finnish. Various dialects: northwest coast varieties differ from east. Kven integrates Norwegian , loans, whereas Tornedalen has integrated Swedish , loans.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 5,000 (1998 Federation of Norwegian Kven People). L2 users: From 1997 accepted as L2 in Norway.
Language Use: Mostly older adults. Also use Finnish [fin], Norwegian [nor].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: Over 90% in Finnish. Taught in schools 3 hours a week. Newspapers.
Nation of Origin: Norway
Other Comments: Christian (Laestadian).