Sound of the Kven language

The Kven language or Kven Finnish (kvääni or kväänin kieli; kainu or kainun kieli[3], Finnish: kveenin kieli) is a Finnic language spoken in northern Norway by the Kven people. For political and historical reasons, it received the status of a minority language in 2005 within the framework of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Linguistically, however, it is seen as a somewhat mutually intelligible dialect of the Finnish language, and grouped together with the Peräpohjola dialects such as Meänkieli, spoken in Torne Valley in Sweden. While it is generally considered as a dialect in Finland, it is officially recognized as a minority language in Norway. The Kven people themselves consider it a separate language.[4] Kveenin kieli on yksi Norjan virallisista vähemmistökielistä.[2] Sitä puhutaan Finnmarkin ja Tromssan lääneissä (Ruija). Kveenin puhujia oli vuonna 2013 noin 1 500 henkilöä.[3] Kielitieteellisesti kve