Tver’ Karelian as a new dialect

Abstract In the article, the development of the Tver’ Karelian dialect is discussed. This new dialect has emerged from a mix of regional dialects of Karelian immigrants from the seventeenth century onwards. Characteristics of a new dialect in Tver’ Karelian are examined on the basis of demographic data and linguistic descriptions. In addition, the unity and internal variation of Tver’ Karelian as well as its relation to other Karelian dialects are taken into consideration. In regard to this kind of comparative study, the article reveals some significant regional shortcomings in the linguistic research material available. A discrepancy could also be found between the areal distribution of certain linguistic features of Tver’ Karelian and the main region of origin indicated by historical documents.