Babinski Saami Language

I. Sociolinguistic Data

1) General Characteristics

Total Number of Speakers and their Ethnic Group 

Based on the data provided by the Institute of Linguistics at the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), there is only 1 Babinksy Saami speaker still alive today.

During the All-Russian Population Censuses, there was never any distinction between different language variants of Saami, which is why the data concerning the size of the ethnic group and the languages spoken contains only information about Saami and Saami language in general. Thus, based on the 2020 All-Russian Population Census, the total number of Saami in the Russian Federation is 1550 people, including 690 men and 860 women. Of them, 1370 people (632 men and 738 women) live on their traditional territory (Murmansk Oblast), based on the data of October 1, 2021.

The last census also did not differentiate between the speakers of different Saami languages. Around 224 people indicated Saami proficiency, and 223 of them identified themselves as Saami (with 204 living in the Murmansk Oblast) [1] . 247 people indicated Saami as their native language (of which 215 live in the Murmansk Oblast) and their nationality.

Based on the Murmanskstat data, 220 residents of the Oblast indicated Saami as their native language (as of October 1, 2021) [2] and 215 of them identified themselves as Saami [3] .

Source : Итоги ВПН-2020. Том 5 Национальный состав и владение языками.   Таблица 17. Население коренных малочисленных народов Российской Федерации [Results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census. Volume 5. Ethnic structure and language proficiency. Table 17. Population of the small indigenous people of the Russian Federation]. Retrieved from : https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/Tom5_tab17_VPN-2020.xlsx  

Sociolinguistic Characteristics: Threat of Extinction, Use in Various Communication Spheres

In 2022, the Institute of Linguistics RAS attributed Babinski Saami the vitality status of 1B- [4] . Such status is granted to the so-called dormant languages, where there are no more regular communication, no intergenerational transmission, and the number of speakers varies between 1 and 40 people [5] . Based on the data provided by the Institute of Linguistics RAS, there is only 1 Babinksy Saami speaker still alive today [6] .

According to Rantala & Sergina (2009), the last native speaker of Babinski Saami was Maria Sergina, who passed away in 2003 [7] . However, a year later E. Scheller indicated that there were still at least “two people aged over 70 who had certain passive knowledge of Babinski, but did not speak it and lived outside the compact residence of Babinski Saami” [8] . In the article Саамский язык [Saami language] of the encyclopedia Язык и общество  (Language and Society), T. Agranat argued that Babinski Saami was extinct “not only because the Russian language drove it out, but also because they started teaching Kildin in the native areas of Babinski Saami” [9] . But in the article Функционирование саамских языков в синхронии и диахронии [Functioning of Saami languages in synchrony and diachrony] (2020), the very same researcher indicated that Babinski Saami “was considered extinct until very recently, but then the last speakers were discovered” [10] .

According to P. Zaykov, a Soviet and Finnish philologist, and researcher of Babinski Saami, there were about 80 Babinski Saami in 1971-1974, but barely one-third of them were proficient in their language. Preschool and grade school children did not understand the language, whereas the middle generation (under 40) used certain expressions in their conversations and generally understood Saami [11] .

Babinski Saami “never had any system of writing and its use never went beyond the domestic sphere” [12] . According to the encyclopedia Язык и общество [Language and Society] (2016), Saami languages as a whole are not used in education, with the exception of optional courses of Kildin Saami and (occasionally) Skolt Saami. As a separate subject, it is taught at the Institute of Peoples of the North (within the Herzen State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg). Saami languages are also not used in such spheres, as science, mass communications, theater, cinema, legislation, legal proceedings, administrative activities, religion, customer service and sales, transport, industrial production, etc. [13] .

Age Structure of Native Speakers

Based on the 2020 All-Russian Population Census, Saami-speaking peoples (regardless of type) can be divided into the following age groups:

The median age of Saami speakers (without any distinction between different Saami languages) is 53,1 years old. Out of the total population, there are 16 people below working age, 141 people of working age, and 102 people above working age.

Sources : Итоги ВПН-2020. Том 5 Национальный состав и владение языками. Таблица 12. Владение языками населением разных возрастных групп [Results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census. Volume 5. Ethnic structure and language proficiency. Table 12. Language proficiency of the population by age groups]. Retrieved from:   https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/Tom5_tab12_VPN-2020.xlsx

2) Geographic Characteristics

Total Number of Localities Traditionally Inhabited by Native Speakers

Traditionally, the Babinski Saami language circulated in the south-western part of the Kolsky Peninsula. Babinski Pogost (Babino, Ахкель-сийт in Saami), known since the 16th century, was located on the shore of the Upolaksha Bay in the southwestern part of Imandra Lake. Based on the Census data, there were 70 inhabitants in Babino in 1926, and 68 in 1938. All inhabitants were Saami. In those days, there was a primary school operating at the Pogost [15] .

Due to the collectivization and consolidation of villages, creation of fishing and reindeer herding kolkhozes on the Kolsky Pensisula, the Saami way of life had underwent considerable changes, many pogosts had disappeared. Thus, in 1937-1938, Babinski Saami moved to Yona, Kovdorsky District, where they created a reindeer herding kolkhoz. In 1971-1974, there were about 80 Babinski Saami in the Yona sovkhoz [16] .

Until 2010, it was believed that the last native speaker of Babinski Saami was Maria Sergina, who passed away in 2003 году [17] . However, E. Scheller (Scheller 2010) indicated that there were still at least “two people aged over 70 who had certain passive knowledge of Babinski, but did not speak it and lived outside the compact residence of Babinski Saami” [18] , but without specifying the places of residence of the potential native speakers.

Murmanskstat published data regarding the location of Saami in their traditional areas based on the 2020 Census. As of October 1, 2021, the Kovdorsky Municipal Okrug, that includes Yona, had 91 Saami, comprising 36 men and 55 women. There was no publication of data on Yona [19] .

3) Historical Dynamics

Number of native speakers and their ethnic group based on various Censuses (starting from 1897)

The absence of numbers means that the data is not available. The Censuses do not distinguish between Saami languages . The questions about languages in the 2002 Census concern only language proficiency, this Census did not contain any questions about native languages .

Sources:

1. Демоскоп Weekly [Demoscope Weekly]. Vishnevsky Institute of Demography. Retrieved from: http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/pril.php  
2. Комментарии к сводной таблице «Народы и Языки Российской Федерации» [Comments to Summary Table “Peoples and Languages of Russian Federation”]. In Endangered Languages of Indigenous Peoples of Siberia. Department of the North and Siberia, IEA RAS. Retrieved from: https://lingsib.iea.ras.ru/en/languages/statistics_comment.shtml  
3. Бабинский саамский язык [Babinski Saami language]. In Малые языки России [Languages of the small people of Russia] . Retrieved from: https://minlang.iling-ran.ru/lang/babinskiy-saamskiy-yazyk  
4. Язык и общество. Энциклопедия [Language and community. Encyclopedia]. M.: Azbukovnik, 2016.
5. Итоги ВПН-2002 [Results of the 2002 All-Russian Population Census]. Retrieved from: http://www.perepis2002.ru/  
6. Итоги ВПН-2010. Том 4. Национальный состав и владение языками, гражданство [Results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census. Volume 4. Ethnic structure and language proficiency, nationality]. Retrieved from: https://rosstat.gov.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi1612-tom4.htm  
7. Итоги ВПН-2020. Том 5. Национальный состав и владение языками [Results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census. Volume 5. Ethnic structure and language proficiency]. Retrieved from: https://rosstat.gov.ru/vpn/2020/Tom5_Nacionalnyj_sostav_i_vladenie_yazykami  

II. Linguistic Data

1) Dialects

Based on the data by the Institute of Linguistics RAS [20] , there are four so-called Saami idioms (a general term to designate various linguistic entities) in Russia: Skolt, Babinski (Akkala), Kildin, and Yokang (Ter). Their status is a controversial issue. Starting from a publication by P. Sammalahti (1998) [21] , foreign linguistic scholars tend to consider these idioms as separate languages. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) also considers Saami languages to be independent: Babinski Saami (Akkala Sami) was recently attributed the sia code [22] . Until recently, Russian publications presented Saami as a single language, but over the past few years, research emerged that presented the Saami languages as separate independent languages, i.e., Саамские языки  (the “Saami languages”) article in the Большой российской энциклопедии [Great Russian Encyclopedia] (2015) [23] .

1. Kert and P. Zaikov considered Babinski Saami to be a transition between Kildin Saami and Notozero dialect of Skolt Saami [24] .

Some researchers (L. Szabó; T.I. Itkonen; Y. Kuzmenko, M. Rissler, etc.) suggest distinguishing two Saami languages: Babinski Saami and Skolt Saami, based on the high percent of lexical matches between different Saami idioms [25] . 

[1]   Итоги ВПН-2020. Том 5 Национальный состав и владение языками. Таблица 18. Владение языками коренных малочисленных народов Российской Федерации [Results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census. Volume 5. Ethnic structure and language proficiency. Table 18. Command of languages of the small indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation] . Retrieved from:  https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/Tom5_tab18_VPN-2020.xlsx

[2] Итоги ВПН-2020 по Мурманской области. Том 5 Национальный состав и владение языками. Таблица 5.10. Население   по   родному   языку   на 1 октября 2021 года   [Results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census in Murmansk Oblast. Volume 5. Ethnic structure and language proficiency. Table 5.10. Population by native language as of October 1, 2021]. Retrieved from:  https://51.rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/5.10.xlsx  

[3] Итоги ВПН-2020 по Мурманской области. Том 5 Национальный состав и владение языками. Таблица 5.24. Население коренных малочисленных народов Российской Федерации по родному языку на 1 октября 2021 года [ Results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census in Murmansk Oblast. Volume 5. Ethnic structure and language proficiency. Table 17. Population of the small indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation as of October 1, 2021] . Retrieved from:   https://51.rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/5.24.xlsx  

[4]   Проект « Языки   России » ИЯ   РАН  [Languages of Russia Project of the Institute of Linguistics RAS]. Retrieved from:  http://jazykirf.iling-ran.ru/list_2022.shtml  

[5] Статусы   витальности [Vitality statuses]. In Проект « Языки   России » ИЯ   РАН  [Languages of Russia Project of the Institute of Linguistics RAS]. Retrieved from: http://jazykirf.iling-ran.ru/Statuses.shtml  

[6] Бабинский саамский язык [Babinski Saami language]. In Малые   языки   России  [Languages of the small people of Russia] . Retrieved from : https://minlang.iling-ran.ru/lang/babinskiy-saamskiy-yazyk  

[7] Rantala Leif, Sergina Aleftina. Áhkkila sápmelaččat. Oanehis muitalus sámejoavkku birra, man maŋimuš sámegielalaš olmmoš jámii 29.12.2003. Roavvenjárga, 2009. P. 79

[8] Scheller, E. Ситуация   саамских   языков   в   России [Situation of Saami languages in Russia]. In Наука   и   бизнес   на   Мурмане   [Schience and business in Murman]. Murmansk: Murmanskoye oblastnoye knizhnoye izdatelstvo, 2010. №2 (69). P. 15–27.

[9] Agranat T. Саамский язык [Saami language]. In Mikhalchenko, V., comp. Язык и общество. Энциклопедия  [Language and community. Encyclopedia]. M.: Azbukovnik, 2016. P. 416. Retrieved from: https://iling-ran.ru/library/sociolingva/2016_jazyk_i_obschestvo.pdf  

[10] Agranat, T. Функционирование   саамских   языков   в   синхронии   и   диахронии [Functioning of Saami languages in synchrony and diachrony. In  Вестник МГЛУ. Гуманитарные науки . 2020, 4 (834). Retrieved from: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/funktsionirovanie-saamskih-yazykov-v-sinhronii-i-diahronii  

[11] Zaykov, P. Бабинский диалект саамского языка (фонолого-морфологическое исследование) [Babinski dialect of Saami language (phonological and morphological research)]. Petrozavodsk, 1987. P. 17-18. 

[12]  Agranat, T. Функционирование саамских языков в синхронии и диахронии [Functioning of Saami languages in synchrony and diachrony. In  Вестник МГЛУ. Гуманитарные науки . 2020, 4 (834). Retrieved from: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/funktsionirovanie-saamskih-yazykov-v-sinhronii-i-diahronii  

[13] Agranat T. Саамский язык [Saami language]. In Mikhalchenko, V., comp. Язык и общество. Энциклопедия  [Language and community. Encyclopedia]. M.: Azbukovnik, 2016. P.417. Retrieved from: https://iling-ran.ru/library/sociolingva/2016_jazyk_i_obschestvo.pdf

[14] The discrepancies in numbers are due to the discrepancies in the data of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census itself.

[15] Бабинский   погост [Babinski Pogost]. In Энциклопедический   лексикон « Кольский   Север » [Kola North Encyclopedic Lexicon]. Retrieved from: http://lexicon.dobrohot.org/index.php/ БАБИНСКИЙ _ ПОГОСТ

[16] Zaykov, P. Бабинский   диалект   саамского   языка ( фонолого - морфологическое   исследование ) [Babinski dialect of Saami language (phonological and morphological research)]. Petrozavodsk, 1987. P. 17-18.

[17] Rantala Leif, Sergina Aleftina. Áhkkila sápmelaččat. Oanehis muitalus sámejoavkku birra, man maŋimuš sámegielalaš olmmoš jámii 29.12.2003. Roavvenjárga, 2009. P. 79

[18] Scheller, E. Ситуация   саамских   языков   в   России [Situation of Saami languages in Russia]. In Наука   и   бизнес   на   Мурмане   [Schience and business in Murman]. Murmansk: Murmanskoye oblastnoye knizhnoye izdatelstvo, 2010. №2 (69). С. 15–27.

[19] Итоги   ВПН -2020 по   Мурманской   области . Том 5 Национальный состав и владение языками. Таблица 5.25 Размещение населения саамов в местах традиционного проживания на 1 октября 2021 года [Results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census in Murmansk Oblast. Volume 5. Ethnic structure and language proficiency. Table 5.25. Distribution of Saami population on its traditional territory as of October 1, 2021]. Retrieved from: https://51.rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/5.25.xlsx

[20]   Уральские   языки : Саамские   языки  [Uralic languages: Saami languages]. In Проект «Языки России» ИЯ РАН [Languages of Russia Project of the Institute of Linguistics RAS]. Retrieved from: http :// jazykirf . iling - ran . ru / groups / Saamic . shtml  

[21] Sammalahti P. The Saami languages: An Introduction. Karasjok: Davvi Girji, 1998. 

[22] Международная   организация   по   стандартизации [International Organization for Standartization]. Retrieved from: https :// iso 639-3. sil . org / code / sia  

[23] Agranat, T.   Саамские   языки [Saami languages]. In Большая   российская   энциклопедия . [Great Russian Encyclopedia]. 2015. V. 29. P. 168-168. Retrieved from:  https://old.bigenc.ru/linguistics/text/3526297  

[24] Бабинский   саамский   язык [Babinski Saami language]. In Малые   языки   России  [Languages of the small people of Russia] . Retrieved from : https://minlang.iling-ran.ru/lang/babinskiy-saamskiy-yazyk  

[25] Уральские   языки : Саамские   языки  [Uralic languages: Saami languages]. In Проект «Языки России» ИЯ РАН [Languages of Russia Project of the Institute of Linguistics RAS]. Retrieved from:  http :// jazykirf . iling - ran . ru / groups / Saamic . shtml