SELECTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY ON THE SAAMI LANGUAGES

This bibliography is selective, which means that it mirrors my own interests - heavily biased towards diachronic linguistics, phonology, etc. Some very important works which have been left out will be added later. Merlijn de Smit

1. General

Korhonen, M. 1981: Johdatus Lapin kielen historiaan. Suomen kirjallisuuden toimituksia 370. Helsinki.

An introduction to the history of the Saami languages.

Sammallahti, P. 1998: The Saami Languages - An Introduction. Kárášjohka

Recent, very elaborate introduction to the Saami languages from both a synchronic and a diachronic approach. Appendixes include clear and detailed sketches of Saami phonological history. No stuff to read in bed, don't let the cover mislead you.

2. Grammatical sketches of languages and dialects.

Bergsland, K. 1982: Sydsamisk Grammatikk. Tromsø - Oslo - Bergen.

Collinder, B. 1938: Lautlehre des Waldlappischen Dialektes von Gällivare. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 74.

Collinder, B. 1949: The Lappish dialect of Jukkasjärvi. A morphological survey.

Halász, I. 1890: A svédországi lapp nyelvjárások. Nyelvtudományi közlemények 22: 161-259.

Halász' notations on a number of Saami languages spoken in Sweden. His transcription was heavily criticized by Wiklund, nevertheless, accessibly material on, for example, Ume Saami remains few.

Itkonen, E.1960: Lappische Chrestomathie mit grammatikalischem Abriss. Helsinki.

Texts, grammar and glossary of Northern Saami.

Kert, G.M. 1971: Saamskij Jazyk (kildinskij dialekt): Fonetika, Morfologija, Sintaksis. Leningrad.

Russian-language monograph on the Kildin Saami language.

Korhonen, M., Mosnikoff, J., Sammallahti, P. 1973: Koltansaamen Opas. Helsinki.

An introduction into the Skolt Saami language.

Lagercrantz, E. 1926: Sprachlehre des Westlappischen nach der Mundart von Arjeplog. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 15.

The reliability of Lagercrantz' notations is controversial. You might want to use this in combination with Lehtiranta 1992.

Lehtiranta, J. 1992: Arjeploginsaamen äänne- ja taivutusopin pääpiirteet. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 212.

Phonology and morphology of the Arjeplog dialect of Pide Saami.

Wiklund 1891: Laut- und Formenlehre der Lule-lappischen Dialekte. Stockholm.

Predates his 1896 Urlappische Lautlehre and hints at a number of ideas elaborated therein.

Äima, F, Itkonen, T.I. 1918: Jacob Fellmanin muistiinpanot Sompion ja Kuolajärven lapin murteista. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Aikakauskirja 30 p. 1-91.

Observations on the extinct Kemi Saami language based on the notations of Jacob Fellman.

3. Dictionaries

Collinder, B. 1943: Lappisches Wörterverzeichnis aus Härjedalen. Uppsala.

Uses entries in Northern Saami, with the Härjedalen South Saami form following.

Grundström, H. 1946-1954: Lulelapsk Ordbok.

Swedish and German. Entries in literary language are followed by Norrkaitum and Jokkmokk dialectal forms. Northern Saami register.

Hasselbrink , G. 1983: Südlappisches Wörterbuch. Uppsala.

Contains an extremely extensive sketch of South Saami grammar and phonology.

Itkonen, E. 1987: Inarilappisches Wörterbuch. Helsinki.

Posthumously published four-part Inari Saami dictionary, the fourth part of which contains information on Inari Saami grammar. Northern Saami register. Rather than dialectal forms, the dictionary contains forms provided by different informants.

Itkonen, T.I. 1958: Koltan- ja Kuolanlapin sanakirja. Helsinki.

Just leafing through this dictionary brings tears to my eyes. The beauty of it all! Toivo Itkonen's monumental, finnish/german dictionary of the Skolt, Kildin and Ter Saami languages pushes a precise phonetic transcription to the limits, to the point of causing doubt whether a minuscule blot is a blot or a very small palatalization mark. The information contained within this dictionary is stupendous.

Lagercrantz, E. 1939: Lappischer Wortschatz. Helsinki.

Lagercrantz' dictionary contains entries from all over the western part of the Saami language area, including, mainly, South Saami, Pide Saami, Lule Saami and the westernmost dialects of Northern Saami. Ume Saami entries are not very common. Using the dictionary may demand some exercise, but the fact that it contains entries from dialects of which there is very little material (e.g., Tysfjord, Sujuvaara, Parkalompelo etc.) it is very worthwile.

Lehtiranta, J. 1989: Yhteissaamelainen sanasto. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 200.

The skeleton structure of a Saami etymological dictionary. It contains reconstructions of all common, proto-Saami, lexical items, together with their counterparts in modern Saami languages.

Nielsen, K. 1932: Lappisk Ordbok. Oslo.

Nielsen's vast dictionary of the Northern Saami language contains, besides literary language forms (literary transcription has changed slightly since), dialectal forms from Polmak, Karasjok and Kautokeino. One part organizes entries in accordance with their meaning. Norwegian and English.

Schlachter, W. 1958: Wörterbuch des Waldlappendialektes von Malå und Texte zur Ethnographie.

One of the very few sources on Ume Saami, which was a moribund language already in the 40s when Schlachter investigated it. Contains also texts. Schlachter uses a transcription which may, sometimes, seem strange at first. Consult Schlachter 1991 (mentioned elsewhere) when in doubt.

4. Phonology

Baczerowski, J. 1969: Konsonantenalternation im Ostlappischen unter dem Aspekt der Verstärkung-Lenierung. Versuch einer strukturell-phonetischen Analyse. Pozna.

Baczerowki's dissertation is oddly little-cited, concerning the general popularity of saami consonant gradation within Uralistics. The only references to it I have found are in Décsy's (rather positive) review in Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher 42 (1970) and Erkki Itkonen's 1977 article (mentioned elsewhere). After elaborately describing the phonetic (articulatory/physiological) background of consonant gradation, B. sketches his hypothesis on the origin of the phenomenon based mainly on eastern-Saami material. Generally, B. follows Steinitz' line in that respect, that he regards the precursors of proto-Saami-Finnic voiceless stops as weakened medial or voiced stops and thus regards saami consonant gradation mainly as a strengthening phenomenon in both language groups.

Bergsland, K. 1945: L'alternance consonantique da-t-elle du lappon commun? Studia Septentrionalia II p. 1-53.

Famous article in which Bergsland casts doubt on the reconstruction of gradation in proto-Saami.

Bergsland, K. 1983: Southern Lapp and Scandinavian quantity patterns. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 185 p. 73-87.

Bergsland treats the striking similarities between Scandinavian and Saami syllable structure and the possibility of mutual influence.

Castrén, M.A. 1858: Om accentens inflytande i Lappska språket - Nordiska Resor och Forskningar V: Smärra Afhandlingar. Helsingfors p. 62-125. (originally appeared in Suomi 1844).

Groundbreaking article in which Castrén points to stress as the main factor in bringing about the famous Saami quantity patterns. Hypothesizes about possible Scandinavian influences.

Collinder, B. 1928: Über den Begriff der Quantität mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die lappische Sprache. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Aikakauskirja 42 p. 1-24.

Collinder, B. 1929: Über den Finnisch-Lappischen Quantitätswechsel. Ein beitrag zur finnisch-ugrischen Stufenwechseltheorie. I: Einleitung. Ostseefinnisch. Ostlappisch. Uppsala.

Collinder's dissertation which, partially, caused some of the first cracks in Setälä's consonant gradation theory (aside from Kettunen's work on the subject).

Collinder, B. 1938: (see above)

Eira, J.-H. 1984: Notes on the sound system of the dialect of Skatnie - Brendemoen, B., Hovdhaugen, E., Magga, O.H. (ed.): Riepmoála. Essays in honour of Knut Bergsland. Oslo.

Harms, R.T. 1975: Problems in Lapp phonology. Congressus Tertius Internationalis Fenno-Ugristarum pars I p. 433-440. Tallinn.

Hasselbrink, G. 1965: Die konsonanten im zentralen Südlappischen unter dem Einfluss von Akzent und Silbenstellung. Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher 36 p. 72-103.

Itkonen, E. 1939: Über den Charakter des Ostlappischen Stufenwechselsystems. Finnisch-Ugrische Forschungen 27 p. 137-167.

Itkonen, E. 1946: Struktur und Entwicklung der Ostlappischen Quantitätssysteme. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Tomituksia 88.

Monumental work on the development of prosodic structure in the Eastern Saami languages.

Itkonen, E. 1977: Betrachtungen zum lappischen Stufenwechsel. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Aikakauskirja 75 p. 13-30.

A defence of the reconstruction of consonant gradation into proto-Saami-Finnic (e.g. early Proto-Finnic), the role of analogy (Wiklund) rather than stress (Castrén, Schlachter) in causing the strengthening of consonantism after stressed syllables, and the reconstruction of spirants (Wiklund) rather than voiced or medial stops as the original "weak-grade" allophones of voiceless stops.

Itkonen, E., Itkonen, T.I., Korhonen, M., Sammallahti, P. 1971: Lapin murteiden fonologiaa. Helsinki.

Phonological transcriptions and sketches of a number of Saami languages and dialects.

Korhonen, M. 1969: Die Entwicklung der morphologischen Methode im Lappischen. Finnisch-Ugrische Forschungen 37 p. 203-362.

Fascinating description of how the sweeping phonological changes in root vocalism and the following consonantism cause the Saami languages to typologically develop from agglutinating to more fusional languages.

Kylstra, A.D. 1983: Skandinavisch-lappische Paralellen. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 185 p. 159-177.

Lagercrantz, E. 1927: Strukturtypen und Gestaltwechsel im Lappischen. Helsinki.

Famous description of Saami prosody in which often psychological explanations for phonological changes are proposed. Very "holistic" view on Saami prosodical structure. The work drew heavy criticism.

Liberman, A.S. 1971: The voiceless vowel in Lapp again. Sovietskoe Finno-Ugrovedenye 7 p. 269-271.

Nielsen, K. 1902: Die Quantitätsverhältnisse im Polmaklappischen. Helsingfors.

Nielsen, K. 1902: Zur Aussprache des Norwegisch-Lappischen I. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Aikakauskirja 20 p. 1-72.

Posti, L. 1954: On the origin of the voiceless vowel in Lapp - Scandinavia et Fenno-Ugrica. Studier tillägnade Björn Collinder den 22 juli 1954. Stockholm p. 199-209.

Ravila, P. 1932: Das Quantitätssystem des Seelappischen Dialektes von Maattivuono. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 62. Helsinki.

Ravila, P. 1956: Der sog. Stimmlose Vokal im Lappischen. Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher 28 p. 184-185.

Ravila, P. 1960: Probleme des Stufenwechsels im Lappischen. Finnisch-Ugrische Forschungen 33 p. 285-325.

Sammallahti, P. 1975: Grade Alternation in Lappish. Congressus Tertius Internationalis Fenno-Ugristarum pars I p. 449-452. Tallinn.

Sammallahti, P. 1977: Norjansaamen Itä-Enontekiön murteen äänneoppi. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 160. Helsinki.

Sammallahti's dissertation is concerned with the phonology of the Northern Saami dialect of Enontekiö.

Schlachter, W. 1942: Wirkungen von Sprachrhythmus und Satzmelodie im Lappischen. Ungarische Jahrbücher 22 p. 212-256.

Schlachter, W. 1954-1955: Lappisches im Lappischen Stufenwechsel I-IV. Münchener Studien zur Sprachwissenschaft 4 p. 2-72, 7 p. 5-43.

An important, but very difficult article in which the role of stress in forming the Saami quantity patterns is rehabilitated. Schlachter's language use guarantees that only total freaks will read and understand this article. Perhaps so it should be...

Schlachter, W. 1991: Stufenwechselstörungen im Malålappischen - Aufbau oder Abbau eines Systems? Wiesbaden.

Dealing with the same subject matter as the former, Schlachter puts the gradation system of the Malå dialect of Ume Saami - on which he did fieldwork during the 40s - under the microscope and analyses it as a system in decline.

Wickman, B. 1975: Phonologische Analyse des Lulelappischen - Symposion: Phonologische Analyse der uralischen Sprachen. Berlin 17-20. September 1974. Linguistische Studien Reihe A: Arbeitsberichte 22. Berlin p. 1-5.

Wiklund, K.B. 1891: (mentioned above)

Wiklund, K.B. 1896: Entwurf einer Urlappischen Lautlehre. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia 10. Helsinki.

Wiklund classical work has, for the most parts, withstood the test of time.

Wiklund, K.B. 1906: Zur Lehre vom Stufenwechsel im Lappischen. Finnisch-Ugrische Forschungen 6 p. 5-16.

Äimä, F. 1906: Eräs lappalainen astevaihtelutapaus. Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Aikakauskirja 23 p. 1-23.

Äimä, F. 1914: Phonetik und Lautlehre des Inarilappischen. Helsinki.

Detailed phonetical description of the Inari Saami language, pushing the precise transcription to its limits.

Äimä, F. 1922: Prof. Wiklundin viimeisten astevaihtelututkimusten johdosta. Virittäjä 26 p. 1-29.

Äimä, F., Collinder, B. 1928: Zur Lautkombinationslehre des Lappischen. Finnisch-Ugrische Forschungen 19 Anzeiger p. 36-81.

Two reviews of Lagercrantz 1927. Especially Collinder's is extremely critical.

5. Other

Bergsland, K. 1977: Saamen kieli ja naapurikielet. Virittäjä 81 p. 1-11.

Helimski, E. 1996: Protolappisch und Samojedisch: die vorgeschlagenen Wortgleichungen im Lichte der heutigen etymologischer Forschung - Lapponica et Uralica. Studia Uralica Upsaliensia 26. Uppsala p. 51-69.

Critique of the theory of a Samoyed substratum in the Saami languages.

Itkonen, E. 1966: Lappalaisten esihistoria kielitieteen valossa - Suomalais-ugrilaisen kielen- ja historiantutkimuksen alalta. Helsinki p. 48-84.

Itkonen defence the close relationship between Saami and Finnic languages and doubts the evidential value of the supposed racial differences between the two populations, often invoked in earlier literature.

Itkonen, T.I. 1948: Suomen lappalaiset vuoteen 1945. Porvoo-Helsinki.

Massive, two-part book on the culture of Saami in Finland.

Korhonen, M. 1979: Über die vorgeschichtlichen Beziehungen der Lappen und Ostseefinnen. Fenno-Ugrica Suecana 2 p. 59-73.

Sammallahti, P. 1984: Saamelaisten esihistoriallinen tausta kielitieteen valossa - Tvärminnen symposiumi 17-19.1.1980. Societas Scientiarum Fennicae. Helsinki p. 137-155.

Sebestyén, I. 1953: Beiträge zum Problem der protolappischen Sprache. Acta Linguistica Hungarica 3 p. 291-322.

Additions to the Samoyed-substratum hypothesis.

Toivonen, Y.H. 1949: Protolapin ongelmasta. Suomen Tiedeakatemian Esitelmät ja Pöytäkirjat p. 159-183.

Outlines the Samoyed-substratum, e.g. the "Proto-Lapp" theory.