WIKITONGUES: Lene+Børre speaking Northern Sami

There are many Sami languages, and not

all Sámi languages have equally good

prospects for the future. But I am

quite optimistic for Northern Sámi

which is the largest Sámi language.

For some Sámi languages, there is

commitment. As in the case of

Inari Sámi, the number of speakers

is increasing year by year.

But generally, it is difficult for

the small Sámi languages.

Especially for Southern Sámi there is

hope because there are avid language

users, and language revitalization

has spread widely.

But it is very important that children

learn Sámi at home, and that parents

speak Sámi to their children.

Otherwise, it will not be enough.

It is the foundation of language.

In the Sámi community, there must

be interest in using the language,

and also to develop the language for the

future. Language technology, which we

are developing, is part of the

revitalization and is helpful, but it

is not the only way to develop

the language. Still it

allows people to use the language

on their mobile phone when sending SMS,

when they're chatting and using Facebook.

It is very important to use Sámi on social

media as well. It is a part of our

everyday life. Not all Sámi lives in

rural areas, not everyone has

close contact with parents

and grandparents. They have moved,

they live in cities and communicates

in the same way as other youth and

other people and uses all types of media.

It is important that also the Sámi

language works and exists in these media.

Divvun makes tools that people use daily,

and we hope that they will be useful to

anyone who speaks and writes Sámi

We will develop our tools according

to their needs.

I work for Giellatekno, and we both work

at the University of Tromsø.

We have common basic resources

and the linguistic part.

I have a regular university position;

I teach Sámi and do research in languages

and in the language technology

possibilities for the language.

Divvun has a mission from the government,

because they are to serve especially Sámi

languages in Norway. Giellatekno can

cooperate more with people in other

countries and with Sámi all over Sápmi.

Importantly, all of our work is open

source. If others want to use our

resources, then they have both the

opportunity and the right to do so.

In commercial contexts also. It would

be very good if someone takes our

resources and makes commercial products

with language technology.

And if they can profit from it,

nothing would be better than that.