Savo Finnish
Encyclopedia
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
spoken in Savonia
Savonia (historical province)
Savonia is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders to Uusimaa, Tavastia, Ostrobothnia, and Karelia. Largest cities in Savo by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.-Administration:...
and other parts of Eastern Finland. It belongs to the eastern Finnish dialects and it is divided to more specific dialect groups.
Savonian dialects are the most widely distributed dialects of Finnish. They are spoken in the Savonia region (Northern and Southern), but also in North Karelia, the main part of Päijät-Häme, Central Finland
Central Finland
Central Finland is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Päijänne Tavastia, Pirkanmaa, Southern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Northern Savonia and Southern Savonia....
, Kainuu
Kainuu
Kainuu is a region of Finland. It borders the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and Northern Savonia. In the east it also borders Russia. Kainuu is known in the ancient Norse sagas as Kvenland....
, Koillismaa
Koillismaa
Koillismaa is a subdivision of Northern Ostrobothnia and one of the Sub-regions of Finland since 2009....
district of Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia is a region of Finland. It borders to the regions Lapland, Kainuu, Northern Savonia, Central Finland and Central Ostrobothnia.- Municipalities :Main article: Municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia...
, the lake section between Southern
Southern Ostrobothnia
Southern Ostrobothnia is one of the 20 regions of Finland.Seinäjoki is the regional centre and by far the largest city in the area.- Historical provinces :For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia- Municipalities :...
and Central Ostrobothnia
Central Ostrobothnia
Central Ostrobothnia is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Southern Ostrobothnia.- Historical provinces :For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia- Municipalities :...
as far north as Evijärvi
Evijärvi
Evijärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
and in the municipalities of Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
and the Southern part of Ranua
Ranua
Ranua is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually Finnish...
in Lapland. Also the language spoken by forest settlers in Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
and Norwegian Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
of Central Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
belonged to the old Savonian dialects. The area of Savonian dialects consist one third of the whole area of Finland.
History
The Savonian dialects are of different origin than Western Finnish dialects. Savonian dialects form a dialect continuumDialect continuum
A dialect continuum, or dialect area, was defined by Leonard Bloomfield as a range of dialects spoken across some geographical area that differ only slightly between neighboring areas, but as one travels in any direction, these differences accumulate such that speakers from opposite ends of the...
with other Eastern dialects of Finnish and Karelian language
Karelian language
Karelian language is a Finnic language spoken mainly in the Russian Republic of Karelia. Linguistically Karelian is closely related to the Finnish dialects spoken in eastern Finland and some Finnish linguists even classified Karelian as a dialect of Finnish...
with whom they have common ancestry in the Proto-Karelian language spoken in the coast of Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is a freshwater lake located in the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia, not far from Saint Petersburg. It is the largest lake in Europe, and the 14th largest lake by area in the world.-Geography:...
in the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
.
Features
Although the Savonian dialects are spread into a large geographical area with significant variations, they are rather different from the standard language and are recognized as a local dialects. There are large variations between different Savonian dialects, but a few of the most stereotypical features are:- Re-development of palatalizedPalatalizationIn linguistics, palatalization , also palatization, may refer to two different processes by which a sound, usually a consonant, comes to be produced with the tongue in a position in the mouth near the palate....
consonants from consonant + i, which is denoted by digraphs with a 'j', e.g./kotʲ/, /moottorʲ/ (standard Finnish , ). In conjunction, the word-final 'i' is not generally added to stems ending in consonant + i. For example, standard ääni is reflected as iän. - Some long vowels and diphthongs have shifted with respect to the standard language; thus, where the standard language has a diphthong, Savo may have a long vowel, and vice versa.
- Stressed (initial-syllable) /ɑː æː/ become opening diphthongDiphthongA diphthong , also known as a gliding vowel, refers to two adjacent vowel sounds occurring within the same syllable. Technically, a diphthong is a vowel with two different targets: That is, the tongue moves during the pronunciation of the vowel...
s, first /oɑ eæ/, and in most varieties further /uɑ iæ/. E.g. mua for Standard Finnish maa "land, country, ground", or piä for pää "head".
- Stressed (initial-syllable) /ɑː æː/ become opening diphthong
} as the 2nd element of a diphthong lowers to /e/, e.g. laeta for laita "side", söe for söi "ate".
} lower similarly to /o ø/ or they may assimilate completely to produce a long vowel, e.g. kaoppa or kaappa for kauppa "store", täönnä or täännä for täynnä "full".
-
- When unstressed, the bisyllabic combination of o/ö/e + a/ä is smoothed to a monosyllabic long vowel. E.g. ruskee for ruskea "brown", kyntöö for kyntöä "plowing (partitive case)". (This change is not specific to Savonian dialects and is found in most forms of Spoken Finnish today.)
- Word-medial simple consonants are geminatedGeminationIn phonetics, gemination happens when a spoken consonant is pronounced for an audibly longer period of time than a short consonant. Gemination is distinct from stress and may appear independently of it....
before a short initial syllable. A native Savonian doesn't say he speaks savoa, he says he speaks savvoo. - The combined effect of the three features above is referred to as speaking like one with a "crooked chin" (viäräleuka cf. standard vääräleuka). Whereas standard Finnish has a "declarative" rhythm, Savo has an "expressive" rhythm. The different way of producing speech is noticeable even if the speaker speaks perfect standard Finnish.
- The glottal stopGlottal stopThe glottal stop, or more fully, the voiceless glottal plosive, is a type of consonantal sound used in many spoken languages. In English, the feature is represented, for example, by the hyphen in uh-oh! and by the apostrophe or [[ʻokina]] in Hawaii among those using a preservative pronunciation of...
replaces word-final /n/, a trait common to many other Finnish varieties. For example, the genitive case is essentially marked by a glottal stop (e.g. isä' iän vs. isän ääni). - All syllable-initial consonants except the last one (which contacts the nucleic vowel) are systematically and completely removed in loans, e.g. traktori as raktorj.
- An epenthetic vowel is inserted after a medial syllable coda of /l/, /h/ or, in certain cases, /n/, e.g. vanaha. This vowel is identical in quality to the preceding vowel. The resulting medial consonant is exempt from gemination.
- Loi plural, e.g. risti - ristilöitä (standard: ristejä)
It is also a particularly creative variety of Finnish. Although standard and known elsewhere, the usage of verb compounds is particularly prevalent in Savo Finnish and a prolific source of creative expressions. The first verb is in the infinitive and indicates the action, and the second verb is declined and indicates the manner. For example, seistä toljotat "you stand there gawking" consists of words meaning "to-stand you-gawk".
Northern Savonian dialects
Northern Savonian dialects are spoken in the municipalities of HankasalmiHankasalmi
Hankasalmi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
(Eastern part), Haukivuori
Haukivuori
Haukivuori is a former municipality of Finland located in the province of Eastern Finland and part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality had a population of 2,361 and covered an area of 505.11 km², of which 108.07 km² is water...
, Heinävesi
Heinävesi
Heinävesi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Iisalmi
Iisalmi
Iisalmi is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, Joroinen
Joroinen
Joroinen is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually Finnish....
, Jäppilä
Jäppilä
Jäppilä is a former municipality of Finland. On 1 January 2004 it was merged to Pieksämäen maalaiskunta and Virtasalmi to form the new municipality of Pieksänmaa, which merged with the town of Pieksämäki in 2007. The village of Jäppilä is located northeast of Pieksänmäki center.The coat of arms...
, Kaavi
Kaavi
Kaavi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Kangaslampi
Kangaslampi
Kangaslampi is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated to Varkaus on 1 January 2005.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality had a population of 1,611 and covered an area of 412.93 km² of which 114.12 km²...
, Karttula
Karttula
Karttula is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated with the city of Kuopio on January 1, 2011.The municipality was located in the Northern Savonia region. It had a population of 3,483 and covered a land area of . The population density was .The municipality was unilingually...
, Keitele
Keitele
Keitele is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Kiuruvesi
Kiuruvesi
Kiuruvesi is a town and municipality of Finland located in the former province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
, Konnevesi
Konnevesi
Konnevesi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, (Eastern part), Kuopio
Kuopio
Kuopio is a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. A population of makes it the ninth biggest city in the country. The city has a total area of , of which is water and half forest...
, Lapinlahti
Lapinlahti
Lapinlahti is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Leppävirta
Leppävirta
Leppävirta is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
, Maaninka
Maaninka
Maaninka is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Muuruvesi (part of Juankoski since 1971), Nilsiä
Nilsiä
Nilsiä is a small town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki is a town and municipality of Finland. Its original name was Haukivuori .It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region.The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Pielavesi
Pielavesi
Pielavesi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Pyhäsalmi, Rantasalmi
Rantasalmi
Rantasalmi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Rautalampi
Rautalampi
Rautalampi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Riistavesi
Riistavesi
-References:* *...
(part of Kuopio since 1973), Siilinjärvi
Siilinjärvi
Siilinjärvi is a municipality of Finland. The name, in Finnish, means "Hedgehog Lake."It is located in Eastern Finland, in Northern Savonia, north of the city of Kuopio. The median age is relatively low; 23% of the population are under 15 years old. The main sources of income are services and...
, Sonkajärvi
Sonkajärvi
Sonkajärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki is a town and municipality of Finland.Suonenjoki is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Säyneinen (part of Juankoski since 1971), Tervo
Tervo
Tervo is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Tuusniemi
Tuusniemi
Tuusniemi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Varpaisjärvi
Varpaisjärvi
Varpaisjärvi is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated with the municipality of Lapinlahti on January 1, 2011.The municipality was located in the Northern Savonia region. It had a population of 2,899 and covered a land area of . The population density was .The municipality was...
, Vehmersalmi
Vehmersalmi
Vehmersalmi is a former municipality of Finland. It is a part of the city Kuopio since January 1, 2005.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality had a population of 2,053 and covered an area of 550.59 km² of which...
, Vesanto
Vesanto
Vesanto is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The municipality is unilingually Finnish.-External links:*...
, Vieremä
Vieremä
Vieremä is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of...
and Virtasalmi
Virtasalmi
Virtasalmi is a former municipality of Finland. On January 1, 2004, it was joined to the new municipality of Pieksänmaa with Jäppilä and Pieksämäen maalaiskunta....
.
Southern Savonian dialects
Southern Savonian dialects are spoken in the municipalities of Anttola, HirvensalmiHirvensalmi
Hirvensalmi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Juva
Juva
Juva is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region some North-East of Helsinki. It was founded on 19 January 1442, and is the oldest parish/municipality in Finland whose exact date of birth is known...
, Kangasniemi
Kangasniemi
Kangasniemi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Mikkeli
Mikkeli
Mikkeli is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Mäntyharju
Mäntyharju
Mäntyharju is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The coastline is almost...
, Pertunmaa
Pertunmaa
Pertunmaa is a municipality of Finland located in the province of Eastern Finland which is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, (Eastern part) Puumala
Puumala
Puumala is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Ristiina
Ristiina
Ristiina is a municipality of Finland. It was founded in 1649 and it was named after Kristina Stenbock, the wife of Governor General and Count Per Brahe....
, Sulkava
Sulkava
Sulkava is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
and Suomenniemi
Suomenniemi
Suomenniemi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the South Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
.
Middle dialects of Savonlinna area
Middle dialects of SavonlinnaSavonlinna
Savonlinna is a town and a municipality of inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region. The Finnish name of the town means "Castle of Savonia" and the Swedish name means "Newcastle".- History :...
area are spoken in the Eastern Savonia, the municipalities surrounding the city of Savonlinna between Southern Savonia and North Karelia: Enonkoski
Enonkoski
Enonkoski is a municipality of Finland. It is located about north of Savonlinna in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region.-History:...
, Kerimäki
Kerimäki
Kerimäki is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Punkaharju
Punkaharju
Punkaharju is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, Savonranta
Savonranta
Savonranta is a former municipality of Finland. It became part of Savonlinna in the beginning of the year 2009.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality had a population of 1,263 and covered an area of 568.59 km² of which 182.55...
and Sääminki (part of Punkaharju and Savonlinna since 1973).
The dialect spoken in Enonkoski has many similarities with the dialects of Northern Savo, while the dialect spoken in the Southern parts of Punkaharju resembles South-Eastern dialects in many ways. The difference between dialects in Savonlinna district has its roots in the colonization history. The area of greater Kerimäki (which consisted Enonkoski, Punkaharju and Savonranta) was settled by Karelian people till 16th century, but from 14th century the Savonian has started to settle to the Eastern side of Lake Pihlajavesi and the coasts of Puruvesi
Puruvesi
Puruvesi is a lake in Eastern Finland. The lake is located in Kerimäki, Kesälahti and Punkaharju municipalities. Part of the Saimaa lake system, it borders on the sub-lake system of Pihlajavesi to the south...
.
The differences between natural and governmental borders goes together in many ways. In Enonkoski the dialect is more Savonian in the Northern side of Hanhivirta. The other reason to this is that the Northern villages of Enonkoski belonged to Heinävesi in 19th century, while the Southern villages were part of Kerimäki. The Northern border of Puruvesi goes through Lake Puruvesi. So the old Karelian-based dialect features have kept in Punkaharju much better than in Kerimäki, which is located in the Northern side of Puruvesi.
Eastern Savonian dialects or the dialects of North Karelia
Eastern Savonian dialects or the dialects of North Karelia are spoken in North KareliaNorth Karelia
North Karelia is a region in eastern Finland. It borders to the regions of Kainuu, Northern Savonia, Southern Savonia, South Karelia and to Russia.The city of Joensuu is the centre of the North Karelia region.- Municipalities :...
in the municipalities of Eno
Eno
- Music :* English National Opera, located at the Coliseum Theatre in St. Martin's Lane* Eno, an album by Japanese band Polysics* "Eno", a song by X-Wife from Rockin' Rio EP- Places :* Eno, Finland, a former municipality, now part of Joensuu...
, Ilomantsi
Ilomantsi
Ilomantsi is municipality and a village of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, Joensuu
Joensuu
Joensuu is a city and municipality in North Karelia in eastern Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of North Karelia region. It was founded in 1848...
, Juuka
Juuka
Juuka is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Kesälahti
Kesälahti
Kesälahti is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Kiihtelysvaara
Kiihtelysvaara
Kiihtelysvaara is a former municipality of Finland. On January 1, 2005 it was consolidated, together with Tuupovaara, with the city of Joensuu....
(now part of Joensuu), Kitee
Kitee
Kitee is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Kontiolahti
Kontiolahti
Kontiolahti is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Korpiselkä (now part of Russia, little part of Tohmajärvi since 1946), Outokumpu
Outokumpu
Outokumpu is a group of companies headquartered in Espoo, Finland, aimed at stainless steel. The company has approx. 8 000 employees in about 30 different countries worldwide...
, Liperi
Liperi
Liperi is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. Liperi is a picturesque community of with the growth rate of 83 newcomers in 11 months in 2007. The population density is...
, Nurmes
Nurmes
Nurmes is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Pielisjärvi (part of Lieksa since 1973), Polvijärvi
Polvijärvi
Polvijärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Pyhäselkä
Pyhäselkä
Pyhäselkä is a former municipality of Finland, now part of Joensuu. It seat was located in Hammaslahti.Pyhäselkä is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality had a population of 7,390 and covered an area of 351.58 km² of which 71.38 km² is...
, Pälkjärvi (now part of Russia, little part of Tohmajärvi since 1946), Rautavaara
Rautavaara
Rautavaara is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Ruskeala
Ruskeala
Ruskeala is a rural locality under the administrative jurisdiction of the town of Sortavala in the Republic of Karelia, Russia....
(now part of Russia), Soanlahti, Tohmajärvi
Tohmajärvi
Tohmajärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
, Tuupovaara
Tuupovaara
Tuupovaara is a former municipality of Finland, located in the province of Eastern Finland. It was consolidated, together with Kiihtelysvaara, to municipality of Joensuu on January 1, 2005. The municipality had a population of 2,176 and covered an area of 661.34 km² of which 56.55 km² is water...
(now part of Joensuu) and Valtimo
Valtimo
Valtimo is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
.
Dialects of Kainuu
Kainuu dialects are spoken in HyrynsalmiHyrynsalmi
Hyrynsalmi is a municipality in Finland and is part of the Kainuu region.The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually Finnish....
, Kajaani
Kajaani
Kajaani is a town and municipality in Finland.It is the capital of the Kainuu region. It is located southeast of Oulujärvi , which drains to the Gulf of Bothnia along the Oulujoki . There are inhabitants and city surface area is of which is water. The population density is . The town is...
, Kuhmo
Kuhmo
Kuhmo is a town and a municipality in Finland and is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . It has a borderline of with Russia....
, Kuusamo
Kuusamo
Kuusamo is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Paltamo
Paltamo
Paltamo is a municipality of Finland.It is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is. There are two built-up areas in the municipality: Kontiomäki and Paltamo...
, Posio
Posio
Posio is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
, Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
Puolanka
Puolanka
Puolanka is a municipality in Finland located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Ranua
Ranua
Ranua is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingually Finnish...
(Southern part), Ristijärvi
Ristijärvi
Ristijärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is.The municipality is unilingually Finnish.-External links:...
, Sotkamo
Sotkamo
Sotkamo is a municipality of Finland, located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .Vuokatti, west of Sotkamo, is a popular skiing resort...
, Suomussalmi
Suomussalmi
Suomussalmi is a municipality in Finland and is located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . The municipality is unilingually Finnish...
, Taivalkoski
Taivalkoski
Taivalkoski is a municipality of Finland, it is located in the Province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region.The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
and Vaala
Vaala
Vaala is a municipality in Finland. It is located in the Kainuu region. Established in 1954 , the municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
.
Dialects of Middle Finland
Dialects of Middle Finland are spoken in HankasalmiHankasalmi
Hankasalmi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
(Western part), Karstula
Karstula
Karstula is a municipality of Finland founded in 1867. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Kinnula
Kinnula
Kinnula is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Kivijärvi
Kivijärvi
Kivijärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Konginkangas (part of Äänekoski since 1993), Konnevesi
Konnevesi
Konnevesi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
(Western part), Kyyjärvi
Kyyjärvi
Kyyjärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Laukaa
Laukaa
Laukaa is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland, next to Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Multia, Pihtipudas
Pihtipudas
Pihtipudas is a municipality of Finland.It is located in northern Central Finland along the highway 4 , about north of Jyväskylä in the province of Western Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Pylkönmäki
Pylkönmäki
Pylkönmäki is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated to Saarijärvi on 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality had a population of 975 and covered an area of 392.61 km² of which 24.58 km² is water...
, Saarijärvi
Saarijärvi
Saarijärvi is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Sumiainen
Sumiainen
Sumiainen is a former municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality had a population of 1,293 and covered an area of 307.93 km² of which 77.34 km² is water...
, Uurainen
Uurainen
Uurainen is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Viitasaari
Viitasaari
Viitasaari is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the Central Finland region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
and Äänekoski
Äänekoski
Äänekoski is a town and municipality of Finland.-Geography:It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. It is neighboured by Kannonkoski, Konnevesi, Laukaa, Saarijärvi, Uurainen, Vesanto and Viitasaari. The town has a population of and covers an area...
.
Dialects of Päijät-Häme
Päijät-Häme Savonian dialects are spoken in JoutsaJoutsa
Joutsa is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
, Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
, Jämsä
Jämsä
Jämsä is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Korpilahti
Korpilahti
Korpilahti is a former municipality of Finland. Together with Jyväskylän maalaiskunta, Korpilahti was consolidated with Jyväskylä on January 1, 2009....
, Koskenpää (part of Jämsänkoski
Jämsänkoski
Jämsänkoski is a former town and municipality in central Finland located near Lake Päijänne and the Jämsänjoki river. The town had population of 7,581 . It covered an area of 448.67 km² of which 48.02 km² is water...
since 1969), Kuhmoinen
Kuhmoinen
Kuhmoinen is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Leivonmäki
Leivonmäki
Leivonmäki is a former municipality of Finland. It became a part of Joutsa in 2008. It is known for its marshy grounds and its national park. First inhabitants are mentioned in 1564. It has been a municipality since 1870....
, Luhanka
Luhanka
Luhanka is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Muurame
Muurame
Muurame is a municipality of Finland, located south-west of Jyväskylä. Muurame itself is located between two lakes, Lake Päijänne and Lake Muuratjärvi. These two lakes are connected to each others via River Muurame. River Muurame streams through the population center of Muurame...
, Pertunmaa
Pertunmaa
Pertunmaa is a municipality of Finland located in the province of Eastern Finland which is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
(Western part), Petäjävesi
Petäjävesi
Petäjävesi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland, next to Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Sysmä
Sysmä
Sysmä is a municipality of Finland situated in Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is.The municipality is unilingually Finnish....
and Toivakka
Toivakka
Toivakka is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland, near Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
.
Middle dialects of Keuruu-Evijärvi
Middle dialects of Keuruu-Evijärvi are spoken in AlajärviAlajärvi
Alajärvi is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Evijärvi
Evijärvi
Evijärvi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Keuruu
Keuruu
Keuruu is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region.The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Lappajärvi
Lappajärvi
Lappajärvi is a municipality in Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Lehtimäki
Lehtimäki
Lehtimäki is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated to Alajärvi on 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 1,850 and covered an area of 291.32 km² of which 18.88 km² is water...
, Pihlajavesi, Soini
Soini
Soini is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Vimpeli
Vimpeli
Vimpeli is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
and Ähtäri
Ähtäri
Ähtäri is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .The municipality is unilingual Finnish....
. This sub-dialect area is wedge shaped in the middle of Ostrobotnia, which has its own dialects and also Swedish-speaking population. This is the influence of Savonian slash and burn farmers who colonized the lake section in Ostrobothnio in the 17th century.
Värmland Savonian dialects
The expansion on Savonian slash and burnSlash and burn
Slash-and-burn is an agricultural technique which involves cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields. It is subsistence agriculture that typically uses little technology or other tools. It is typically part of shifting cultivation agriculture, and of transhumance livestock...
agriculture, which started in the beginning of Modern era, expanded to the Central Scandinavia. Mostly in the beginning of 17th century Savonian settlers, mainly from the parish of Rautalampi
Rautalampi
Rautalampi is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, settled in Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
, Sweden. In the beginning of 19th century tens of thousands of people spoke Savonian language as their mother tongue. These "Forest Finns
Forest Finns
Forest Finns are people of Finnish descent in the forest areas of Eastern Norway and Central Sweden...
" were interesting group from the linguistic point of view because their language was kept safe from other influences. The slash and burn in Sweden was prohibited in the middle of 17th century and no new Finnish settler moved to the area. So the language of Forest Finns lacked the Schwa
Schwa
In linguistics, specifically phonetics and phonology, schwa can mean the following:*An unstressed and toneless neutral vowel sound in some languages, often but not necessarily a mid-central vowel...
vocal and gemination
Gemination
In phonetics, gemination happens when a spoken consonant is pronounced for an audibly longer period of time than a short consonant. Gemination is distinct from stress and may appear independently of it....
, which are used now in the dialect spoken in Rautalampi. Nowadays the Savonian dialect of Värmland is extinct. The last Savonian speakers were Johannes Johansson-Oinonen (died in 1965) and Karl Persson (died 1969).
Music
VerjnuarmuVerjnuarmu
Verjnuarmu is a heavy metal band from Finland singing in the Savo dialect of the Finnish language.Performing in a dialect is rare in the Finnish heavy metal scene. Sometimes their style is dubbed as "Savo metal"...
is a band — the first and only one — playing melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
in the Savo dialect. Described as "combin[ing] the very beautiful dialect of Savo with the heavy doomsday music" (yhistää mussiikissaan savon ylen kaaniin murteen raskaaseen tuomijopäevän soetantaan). Jaakko Teppo is a famous Savonian musician and social critic who uses Savonian language in his lyrics.
Sources
- http://www.internetix.ofw.fi/opinnot/opintojaksot/8kieletkirjallisuus/aidinkieli/murteet/murrealu.html#6%20%20Savolaismurteet