Karelia – The Karelian ethnic community has a long history and a colorful and rich culture and heritage. However, at present, new generations of Karelians are trying to find their place in the ever-changing global setting. The Karelians are trying to balance their traditional practices with the modern needs of the present.
Before going any further, let us first learn more about the Karelians. Who exactly are they, and what pushed them to search for the balance of tradition and modern living?
Ethnic People of Karelia
The Karelian people belong to the East Baltic race, with more communities living in the Republic of Karelia. Distributed across a large territory from the northwestern region of Russia and the southeastern part of Finland, the Karelians share distinct cultural practices and linguistic traditions with other major ethnic communities in the area. The members of the local communities have physical features that show European traits blended with Mongolian ones.
There are distinct subgroups of Karelians, which can be distinguished by their linguistic backgrounds and geographical locations. However, it is the linguistic identity of the people that is growing into a concern for many younger generations. Why is this so?
Karelian Language
Many scholars have different thoughts on the language of the ethnic Karelian. Some consider the language a dialect of Finnish as there are several similarities and influences in its usage. Others consider the Karelian language as a distinct language due to its geopolitical location.
Regardless of which school of thought one believes, the more pressing concern is that fewer ethnic Karelians speak this ethnic language. Many of the younger individuals are more fluent in Russian as their first language.
What Do We Know About the Karelian Language?
Karelian belongs to the Northern group of the Balto-Finnic languages, which relates it closely to the Finnish language. As people of this indigenous group move into various locations throughout the centuries, many people have formed dialects that further divided the language’s characteristics into varieties identified through their similarities with other major languages in the region.
For instance, there is the North Karelian dialectal group used by the Karelian ASSR, then the South Karelian dialectal group of the people living in the Leningrad, Novgorod, and Tver regions of Russia, and the Olonets or livviko dialectical group used by Karelians living between Lakes Ladoga and Onega, and even in Finland.
Moreover, the Russian influence is evident in the Karelian language structure and word usage. Even so, the speakers of the dialects are becoming fewer and fewer as the years pass. This is why the preservation and development of the Karelian ethnic language are essential.
What Can We See Now?
Many younger generations see that such an effort in keeping their language alive can also help in the cultural and economic development of Karelia. As a cultural project and action, the communities can further see the programs for the continuity of the language and the indigenous communities. This is where Karelian-language courses and the use of the language in popular culture can be handy.
After all, the language of a community helps distinguish them from other ethnic groups. Language is an essential tool in keeping a community’s history, culture, traditions, and beliefs alive. It helps the people stay together and understand each other across different generations. Keeping the Karelian will also help the people see the beauty in their cultural treasures as they begin to have a deeper understanding of their folkloristic heritage evident in their songs and literature. Finally, the deep involvement of the Karelian people means there is a bright future for this effort.
Image from Radik Sitdikov, https://unsplash.com/@radya
