Bjarmian languages | |
---|---|
Extinct | (date missing) |
Uralic
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
Bjarmian languages are a group of extinct Finnic languages once spoken in Bjarmia, or the northern part of the Dvina basin. [1] Vocabulary of the languages in Bjarmia can be reconstructed from toponyms in the Arkhangelsk region, and a few words are documented by Norse travelers. Also some Saamic toponyms can also be found in the Dvina basin. [2] [3]
There were likely many Finnic languages spoken in Bjarmia, the first one was an archaic Finnic language with the diphthong *ai instead of Finnic ei, lack of consonant gradation and the vowel /ɤ/.
Later a Karelian-like language started to be spoken in Bjarmia, which did not have the Karelian sound shift of /aa/ into /ua/. Some toponyms in Bjarmia also have the sound /ʃ/ instead of /s/.
Janne Saarikivi suggests that some Sámi languages were spoken in Bjarmia alongside Finnic languages. [2]
Many toponyms in the Arkhangelsk oblast are of Finno–Ugric origin, together with the Vologda oblast, according to Aleksandr Matveyev, there are up to 100,000 toponyms of Finno–Ugric origin. [2]
Bjarmian | English |
---|---|
*kaski | burnt-over clearing |
*hattara | bush |
*lauta | board |
*palttV | slope |
*lima | slime |
*kelta | yellow |
*petra | wild reindeer |
*pime | dark |
*haina | hay |
*leettek | fine sand |
*varkas | thief |
*kicca | narrow |
*ruske | red |
*kylmä | cold |
Some Finnic substrate words can be found in Northern Russian dialects, for example the words: лахта (lahta) 'marsh, moist place, meadow', луда (luda) 'rocky islet', каска (kaska) 'young woods' and щелья (schelja) 'hill or steep bank by a river'. Such words can be found in the Russian dialects around Pinega. Their source is Finnic languages. [2]
Gandvík is a name associated with Bjarmia that appears in Norse poems. The word could have been a Norse translation of a Finnic word, which is " Kantalahti" in Finnish. The word Vína appears in many Norse sagas that refer to Bjarmia; it is likely related to the Finnish word "Vienanmeri" ( White Sea). Norse sagas also documented a Bjarmian word "Jómali", which is likely related to Finnish "Jumala" 'God'. [3]
Bjarmian languages | |
---|---|
Extinct | (date missing) |
Uralic
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
Bjarmian languages are a group of extinct Finnic languages once spoken in Bjarmia, or the northern part of the Dvina basin. [1] Vocabulary of the languages in Bjarmia can be reconstructed from toponyms in the Arkhangelsk region, and a few words are documented by Norse travelers. Also some Saamic toponyms can also be found in the Dvina basin. [2] [3]
There were likely many Finnic languages spoken in Bjarmia, the first one was an archaic Finnic language with the diphthong *ai instead of Finnic ei, lack of consonant gradation and the vowel /ɤ/.
Later a Karelian-like language started to be spoken in Bjarmia, which did not have the Karelian sound shift of /aa/ into /ua/. Some toponyms in Bjarmia also have the sound /ʃ/ instead of /s/.
Janne Saarikivi suggests that some Sámi languages were spoken in Bjarmia alongside Finnic languages. [2]
Many toponyms in the Arkhangelsk oblast are of Finno–Ugric origin, together with the Vologda oblast, according to Aleksandr Matveyev, there are up to 100,000 toponyms of Finno–Ugric origin. [2]
Bjarmian | English |
---|---|
*kaski | burnt-over clearing |
*hattara | bush |
*lauta | board |
*palttV | slope |
*lima | slime |
*kelta | yellow |
*petra | wild reindeer |
*pime | dark |
*haina | hay |
*leettek | fine sand |
*varkas | thief |
*kicca | narrow |
*ruske | red |
*kylmä | cold |
Some Finnic substrate words can be found in Northern Russian dialects, for example the words: лахта (lahta) 'marsh, moist place, meadow', луда (luda) 'rocky islet', каска (kaska) 'young woods' and щелья (schelja) 'hill or steep bank by a river'. Such words can be found in the Russian dialects around Pinega. Their source is Finnic languages. [2]
Gandvík is a name associated with Bjarmia that appears in Norse poems. The word could have been a Norse translation of a Finnic word, which is " Kantalahti" in Finnish. The word Vína appears in many Norse sagas that refer to Bjarmia; it is likely related to the Finnish word "Vienanmeri" ( White Sea). Norse sagas also documented a Bjarmian word "Jómali", which is likely related to Finnish "Jumala" 'God'. [3]