Managing Differences, Showing (Dis)affiliations: Language Contacts Through the Eyes of the Inhabitants of a Village in Finnish Lapland

Abstract

This chapter discusses how inhabitants of a Finnish village near the Norwegian border describe different languages in their lives. In their current place of residence, tourism has a strong influence, and the inhabitants have temporary contacts with national and transnational visitors and hear and use different languages and their varieties. Also, the location of the village in the Saami land influences their experiences. The data consist of seven language biographical interviews. The interviewees describe the languages they recognise and use in interactions with others, including also experiences of variation within the named languages. Their relationship (affiliations and disaffiliations) with the languages is reflected in their attitudes, particularly as affective stances which have ideological connections. The study shows how sociolinguistic dynamics in a northern location as well as the personal contacts and background of its residents are present in their interactions and have an impact on their involvement with languages.