Sami Knife

VVV · 25th February 2012, 08:06 PM

I am no expert of Sami knives but I have studied some of the Sami religions and cultures.
The Sami people consists of several different sub-groups who have their own, quite different, languages. Their languages are closer related to Finnish than any of the Scandinavian languages. But still it is so different that the sub-groups cannot understand each other's languages, i.e. it is not dialects.
So unless you know which sub-group the specific knife comes from you cannot decide what it is supposed to be called locally.
I know less about North American Indian tribes but I suspect that it is the same situation there if you want to find out the original native name for one of their knives?

Michael

25th February 2012, 08:06 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	I am no expert of Sami knives but I have studied some of the Sami religions and cultures. The Sami people consists of several different sub-groups who have their own, quite different, languages. Their languages are closer related to Finnish than any of the Scandinavian languages. But still it is so different that the sub-groups cannot understand each other's languages, i.e. it is not dialects. So unless you know which sub-group the specific knife comes from you cannot decide what it is supposed to be called locally. I know less about North American Indian tribes but I suspect that it is the same situation there if you want to find out the original native name for one of their knives? Michael