Minority languages in Sweden

   

Even though Sweden (similar to the United States) has no official language, Swedish dominates totally. The indigenous Finno-Ugric languages were repressed well into the 1960s.

Since Sweden's adoption of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 1999 there are five officially recognized minority languages:

The Sami language, spoken by ~7,000 peoples in Sweden?, may be used in government agencies, courts, preschools and nursing homes in the municipalities of Arjeplog, Gällivare, Jokkmokk and Kiruna and its immediate neighbourhood. Similary, Finnish and Meänkieli can be used in the municipalities of Gällivare, Haparanda, Kiruna, Pajala and Övertorneå and its immediate neighbourhood. Romany and Jiddisch have the position of "historical minority languages" throughout the country, and thus the Swedish state has a certain obligation to preserve them.


See also

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