Peräpohjola dialects are forms of Finnish language spoken in Lapland in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The dialect group belongs to the Western Finnish dialects and it is divided to five more specific dialect groups.[1]
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Tornio dialects are spoken in the area surrounding Torne River in Finnish Peräpohjola (North Bothnia) and in Swedish side of the river (Norrbotten). In Finland Tornio dialects are spoken in the municipalities of Enontekiö, Kolari, Muonio, Pello and Ylitornio. In Sweden the dialect is spoken in Alatornio, Hietaniemi, Jukkasjärvi, Junosuvanto, Kaaresuvanto, Kainulasjärvi, Karunki, Korpilompolo, Pajalo, Täräntö, Vittanki and Ylitornio.[1]
In Sweden the Tornio dialects together with Jällivaara dialects are also called meänkieli. It has an official minority language status[2].
Kemi dialects are spoken in Finland in the municipalities of Inari, Kemi, Kittilä, Rovaniemi, Simo, Sodankylä, Tervola and Utsjoki.[1]
Kemijärvi dialects are spoken in Kemijärvi, Pelkosenniemi, Salla and Savukoski.[1]
Jällivaara dialects are spoken in Sweden in Jällivaara, Killivaara and Nattavaara.[1][3] The first people living in Jällivaara area were Sami people. The first mention of Birkarls trading with Sami people is from 1328. Some Birkarls settled to live there in the early ages, but mainly the Finnish settlers came to the area in the end of 17th and in early 18th century. The Swedish colony started about one hundred years after that. Finnish language has been a common language spoken at home in the area but the dialects differ quite much from those spoke in the Finnish side of the border.[3]
Together with Tornio dialects Jällivaara dialects are also called meänkieli in Sweden. Meänkieli has an official minority language status in Sweden[2]
Ruija dialects are spoken in Northern Norwey in Alta, Lyngen, Lakselv, Kvaenangen, Nordreisa and Vadsø.[1] This dialect is called Kven language in Norway for political and historical reasons[4].