South Estonian Language

South Estonian Language

South Estonian is a Finnic language spoken in South-Eastern Estonia, encompassing the Tartu, Mulgi, Võro and Seto languages or dialects. It has traditionally been considered one of the two or three main dialect groups of the Estonian language, and is largely mutually intellegible with modern standard Estonian, although diachronically North and South Estonian are separate branches of the Finnic languages.

Modern standard Estonian has evolved on the basis of the dialects of Northern Estonia. However, in the 17th to 19th century in Southern Estonia literature was published in a standardized form of Southern Tartu and Northern Võro. This usage was called the Tartu (or South Estonian) literary language. The written standard was used in the schools, churches and courts of the Võro and Tartu linguistic area but not in the Seto and Mulgi area.

After Estonia gained independence in 1918, the standardized Estonian language policies were implemented further throughout the country. The government officials during the era believed that the Estonian state needed to have one standard language for all its citizens that led to exclusion of South Estonian at schools. The ban on the instruction and speaking of South Estonian dialects in schools continued during Soviet occupation (1940–1990).

After Estonia regained independence in 1991, the Estonian government has become more supportive of the protection and development of South Estonian. A modernized literary form founded on the Võro dialect of South Estonian has been created.

The other dialects of South Estonian language area include Mulgi, Tartu, and Seto. Võro and Seto have remained furthest from the standard written Estonian language and are most difficult to understand by speakers of North Estonian dialects.

The Leivu and Lutsi South Estonian enclaves in Latvia became extinct in the 20th century. The Kraasna enclave in Russia, still aware of their identity, has been assimilated linguistically by Russians.