Abstract
As a result of the phenomenon of globalization, lingual communities around the world are finding new ways to push back against the lingua franca that once threatened their very existence. Where once speakers of minority languages were forced to learn the language deemed most prestigious, as communities have become increasingly interconnected, they have access to innovative ways to maintain their language and culture within the realm of the majority language. Without diversity in language and culture, there is a risk of homogeneity in thought and loss of identity that is, at best, disheartening and, at worst, a threat to lingual communities worldwide.\r This paper draws a connection between the experiences of the Kven people and the Sami people of Norway, two groups that are currently going through a lingual and cultural revitalization. Both groups are minorities in Norway, but each has had varying levels of success in the maintenance of their respective languages and cultures. Whereas the Sami have legally established themselves as an “indigenous population,” the Kveeni are still considered a national minority and are not afforded the same privileges and rights that the Sami people have recently secured. The Sami have been more successful in their revitalization efforts, whereas the success of the Kveeni has been marginal. Through analysis of scholarly work, historical events, and interviews with Norwegian Kven people, this article posits that if the Kveeni take note of how the Sami have achieved their level of prestige and come together as a unified group to make their voices heard, they will then be able to preserve their culture, prevent the death of their language, and attain the status of “indigenous population.”