Language nest in the
context of inter-generational
language transmission
4.-5.3.2010 Bodø, SLDR Winter School
Annika Pasanen,
Ph.D.student at University of Helsinki,
Department of Finno-Ugrian Studies
Project coordinator in Anarâškielâ servi (‘Inari
Saami language association’)
Inter-generational language
transmission
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The most important factor of vitality
or endangerment of a language (e.g.
UNESCO 2003)
Most naturally happening at home
between parents (or grandparents)
and the children
But what does it mean in practice?
Roots of the language nest:
Aotearoa
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First language nests in Aotearoa = New Zealand
in 1982
By that time maori language seriously
endangered, used only among elder maoris and
in some spesific domains
Rapid widening of the Kohanga reo –movement
(for instance in 2004 545 nests with over 10 000
children)
→Maori-medium schools and bilingual schools for
Kohanga reo –children
→Maori as a language of media and administration
→Inter-generational language transmission at
home???
Other languages having language
nests
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Hawaiian 1984 →
Skolt Saami in 1993 and 1997-2001
(Sevettijärvi) and 2008 → (Ivalo)
Inari Saami 1997 → (Inari, 1997-2001
also in Ivalo)
South Saami (Engerdalen)
Lule Saami (Tysfjord and Jokkmokk)
Karelian 2000-2006 (Uhtua) and 2009 →
(Petrozavodsk and Nurmes)
Finnish 2009 → (Petrozavodsk)
Basic principles of language nest
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Only minority language is spoken by
teachers since the first day
Children are naturally allowed to
speak in majority language; additive
language learning vs. subtractive
Focus on communication, not on
teaching the language
Language nest vs. language
immersion
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Immersion in Canada: French for
English-speaking children; in
Finland: Swedish for Finnishspeaking children
Basic methods used in activities are
the same, but context and aim are
different
Language nest is a kind of early,
total immersion in minority language
Language
immersion
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Usually for majority
children
Prestige of the target
language; rational
reasons to learn it
Starting at the age of
4-5; successive
bilingualism
Role of the family:
parents are not
recommended to
change the home
language
Continuing in school:
immersion classes
Language nest
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Usually for minority
children
Traditionally low
prestige, but
revitalization going
on; mainly other than
rational reasons
Starting as early as
possible; synchronic
bilingualism
Families encouraged
toward RLS
Not necessarily
possibilities to
continue in school
Inari Saami language nest in Inari
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Founded in 1997 by Anarâškielâ servi
In the beginning: 2 teachers; 8+2
children, 3-6 years old, all of them
having Inari Saami roots; funded by
Finnish Cultural Foundation
Nowadays: 3 teachers; 10+2
children, 0-6 years old, part of them
Finnish; funded mainly by Ministry of
social affairs and health
Karelian language nests in the
Republic of Karelia, Uhtua (Kalevala)
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Founded in 2000 and 2002 as
separate groups of two Russianspeaking kindergartens
12-14 children, 2 teachers + 1 nanny
In 2006 two groups united as
“Karelian-speaking kindergarten”,
but at the same time principles of
language nest abandoned
Finno-Ugrian language nest project
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Started in 2008
Funded by Finnish Cultural Foundation
Why? To promote language nest activities
among Finno-Ugrian peoples especially in
Russia
How? Information concerning language
nest, education of kindergarten teachers,
methodological support, minor financial
support for groups
In Autumn 2009 partial language nest
groups founded in the Republic of Karelia
Language nest as a factor of intergenerational language transmission
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First aid on speech community’s way
to RLS at home?
Or constant necessarity and only
way to inter-generational language
transmission?
Tendency of endangered speech
communities to give responsibility to
kindergartens and schools – how to
strengthen parents’ role?
...crucial question:
Will children, who have
learnt minority language in
the nest, transmit it to
their own children?
Promoting RLS at home
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Inari: language courses for parents and
other adults; “Clinic of bi- and
multilingualism” (being planned)
Uhtua: “Tiijän mie i tietäy muamo” weekly evening courses for parents of the
language nest
Scotland: “Learning Gaelic before the child
is born” –courses for young adults
“Speak your mother tongue to your
children” –information and raising
awareness among young adults
Holistic view in the revitalization
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Taking account of the whole entity of
speech community and domains
Chain of language maintenance /
chain of factors maintaining the
language (orig. kielensäilyttäjien
ketju, Olthuis 2003): home –
daycare – school – hobbies – friends
– family – studies – work – social
services – church
Special attention on teenagers?
Strengthening language use and
linguistic identity among children
and youngsters
What do you suggest?