Kven language

Kven (kvääni; kainu; Finnish: kveeni; Norwegian: kvensk) is a Finnic language spoken in the northernmost parts of Norway by the Kven people. It is closely related to Meänkieli, spoken in Torne Valley in Sweden, and to the Peräpohjola dialects of Finnish. The status of Kven as a distinct language versus a dialect of Finnish has been debated. In 2005, Kven received the status of a minority language in Norway under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. There are about 1,500 to 10,000 known native speakers, most of whom are over the age of 60. Middle-aged speakers tend to have a passing knowledge of the language. They use it occasionally, but not frequently enough to keep it off the endangered list. People under the age of 30 rarely speak or know the language. However, children in the community of Børselv can learn Kven in their primary schools.