Skolt Sami, the makings of a pluricentric language, where does it stand?

• Main Authors: Rueter, Jack, Hämäläinen, Mika
• Other Authors: Muhr, Rudolf, Mas Castells, Josep Angel, Language Technology, Department of Modern Languages 2010-2017
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Languages; Skolt Sami; pluricentric languages; minority language; Language Technology; Uralic languages; finite-state morphological analysis; Giellatekno; Divvun; HFST; Kone Language Programme; sami
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/321731

This paper will provide a brief description of Skolt Sami and how it might be construed as a pluricentric language. Historical factors are identified that might contribute to a pluricentric identity: geographic location and political history; shortages of language documentation, and the establishment of a normative body for the development of a standard language. Skolt Sami is assessed in the context of Sami languages and is forwarded as one of a closely related yet distinct language group. Here the issue then becomes one of facilitating diversity even for under-documented languages. And we aptly describe opportunities in language technology that have been utilized to this end. Finally, brief insight is given for other Uralic languages with regard to pluricentric character and possibilities for language users to facilitate the maintenance of their individual language needs. Peer reviewed