This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 212.181.86.76 (talk) at 14:07, 30 May 2004 (Izhorians (Ingrians)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 14:07, 30 May 2004 by 212.181.86.76 (talk) (Izhorians (Ingrians))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Finnic (Fennic) may refer to Finnish-similar languages spoken close to the Gulf of Finland, i.e. the Balto-Finnic subgroup of the Finno-Ugric languages.
Finnic may also refer to the peoples speaking these languages, and their farmer-hunter culture, traditionally living in Karelia, Ingria, Estonia, Finland, Northernmost Norway and Northern Sweden. Finnic used in this way establish the contrast to the nomadic Samis, but also to the Slavonics, the Balts and the Scandinavians (or the Germanic peoples).
The Finnic peoples include
It is debated whether or not the Chudes (mentioned by Jordanes 550 A.D.) were an unidentified Finnic tribe or whether a Finnic group might be considered to be the original Chudes. It has also been considered whether or not (Russian) chud is borrowed from Sami or vice versa.
There is a group of Finnic people near the Gulf of Bothnia speaking Meänkieli, descenting probably from 10th-13th century due to archeological findings. A larger immigrant wave sweeped the northen Scandinavia between 16th-18th century, and they still inhabit northen Norway and Sweden. They, at least the Norwegain part, often recognize themself as "Kveners".
There is an old beliefe that there have been a proto-Finnic-Samic language group much like an artificial proto-Germanic group, but recent research shows it is not necessary, just like the proto-Germanic case.