Scanian language - Definition and Overview

The Scanian language (also Skånsk or Skånska) is the language indigenous to the region of southern Sweden once known as Terra Scania, of which the Swedish province of Scania constitutes the main part.

The notion of Scanian as a separate language of its own is somewhat controversial with regard to the situation before Sweden's acquisition (in 1645/1658) and gradual de facto incorporation of Terra Scania, that was completed in 1721. Pre-18th century Scanian may also be characterized as a dialect of Danish, as Terra Scania itself one of the three lands of Denmark that were perceived to constitute that kingdom.

After Denmark lost the region to Sweden (in 1645/1658), a process of Swedification took place, including a switch of language used in church, that was ultimately successful with the 20th century dominance of Swedish language radio and television. A Scanian language is not officially recognized in Sweden, and the entire Scanian population can speak and understand Swedish, albeit with a distinguished dialectual pronunciation.

Today Scanian is primarily understood as dialect of Swedish, most closely related to the East Danish language spoken on the island of Bornholm. Some linguists and Scanian separatists prefer to classify Scanian as an East Danish variety. Like Danish, Scanian is a uvular R language, pronouncing the phoneme /r/ as a uvular consonant rather than with the alveolar and retroflex articulation used in Svealand Swedish.

External link

• Language Tree (http://www.ethnologue.com/show_lang_family.asp?code=SCY) - Ethnologue report