Vienankarjala

In linguistics, the different dialects of Karelian language are grouped into two main groups: Karelian Proper and Olonets Karelian (Livvi Karelian). Karelian Proper is divided into White Sea Karelian (i.e. North Karelian) and South Karelian, which also includes the Tver enclave dialects. In the Republic of Karelia, Ludian dialects are usually considered the third main group, but elsewhere they are considered to form a different language.

The dialects of Karelian Proper have been or are spoken in the following areas: 

• White Sea Karelian dialects: Kieretti, Oulanka, Kiestinki, Vitsataipale, Pistojärvi, Uhtua, Vuokkiniemi, Suomussalmi Hietajärvi and Kuivajärvi, Kontokki, Jyskyjärvi, Paanajärvi, Usmana, 

• South Karelian dialects: Tunkua, Suikujärvi, Repola, Rukajärvi, Paatene, Mäntyselkä, Porajärvi, Ilomantsi, Korpiselkä, Suojärvi, Tver, Tihvina, Valdai, Suistamo and Impilahti. 

The northern dialects differ from the southern ones in that they do not contain the following sonorous consonants: b, d, g, z and ž, but the chordless p, t, k, s and š. However, the border is not sharp, but in the so-called transitional dialects, features vary.