Journal Article

Children's Literature in \Our Language\

Kokkola, Lydia

2018

Overview

Meänkieli was not officially recognized as a language until 2002; prior to that, it was considered a dialect of Finnish. Less than half of the Tornedalingers speak Meänkieli, mainly due to repressive language policies that were enforced from the 1920s to the 1960s. To date, publications listed as being in Meänkieli total around 160, of which about 90 are for children and 10 are dictionaries. The three main publishing houses—Förlaaki Kaamos, Meänkielen förlaaki, Barents Publisher—are small, desktop enterprises established by activists committed to promoting the language and culture. In addition, a few other companies have published translations. In this letter, I venture to provide Bookbird readers with an overview of Meänkieli literature, most of which has been written and produced by parents who are politically active in their promotion of minority rights. The primary purpose of these books is to pass on the language—not only to the children but also to their parents and carers who, as a result of the repressive language policies, are not necessarily fluent speakers. They also endeavor to forge a sense of group identity.

• Publisher: Bookbird, Inc
• Subject: Activism / Budgets / Caregivers / Children / Children & youth / Childrens literature / Childrens picture books / Christianity / Cultural identity / Dialects / Dictionaries / Finnish language / Group identity / Icelandic & Scandinavian literature / Language maintenance / Language policy / Literary translation / Minority & ethnic groups / Minority groups / Parents & parenting / Publishing / Publishing industry / Teaching