The project focuses on Skolt Saami, a severely endangered language spoken by 300–350 speakers. The main objectives are to 1) describe the grammatical structure of the present-day Skolt Saami, 2) provide an overview of its historical development, and 3) of the sociolinguistic variation. These objectives will be realized in the form of 1) a comprehensive descriptive reference grammar, accompanied by 2) nine in-depth case studies, 3) an edited volume of articles on the language, 4) two collections of oral texts, and 5) a doctoral thesis. All of the concrete objectives have a higher aim of supporting the Skolt Saami in their efforts to revitalize their language and culture. The research team consists of five experts on the Saami languages who have studied and taught Skolt Saami for a long time, and want to provide a better description of the language that will be easy for the Saami themselves to use. The project will incorporate Skolt Saami speakers and students as equal research partners.

2022

2026