Online resources > For language students

For language students

Interest in the Karelian language and its study has grown rapidly in recent years. Opportunities for learning the language have also improved. 

In this page, you can find various materials for studying and teaching the language in different dialects: White Sea Karelian, South Karelian, and Olonets Karelian (Livvi Karelian). The materials are intended for students, teachers and for passing on the language to children. 

Many types of materials, such as grammars, reading lists, exercises, and videos are available. Stories by various authors are often originally written in local dialects.  

Karelian Cultural Society promotes the development and use of standardized language forms. The materials have mainly been prepared by native speakers or those with knowledge of the dialect equal to a native speaker and they have been proofread. 

Language does not exist in isolation from its environment or the past. Therefore, many of the materials are based on culture, history and tradition. 

Check out materials for the three dialects of Karelian language as well as the dialects of border Karelia in the Finnish pages Vienankarjala, Rajakarjalaiset murteet, Livvinkarjala and Lyydi: https://www.karjalansivistysseura.fi/verkkoaineistot/oppimateriaalit/   

You may also find these helpful in learning the Karelian language: 

  • Dictionary of Karelian language was published in six volumes in 1968–2005 by the Institute for the Languages of Finland (Kotimaisten kielten keskus, Kotus) and the Finno-Ugrian Society (Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura). The online dictionary was produced by Kotus: https://kaino.kotus.fi/cgi-bin/kks/kks_etusivu.cgi