Language Lounge: the Saaremaa dialect and accent

VINCENT TEETSOV

“Õ-hääliku lõpp.” “The end of the ‘Õ’ vowel.” In May 2019, this brown road sign was a short-lived symbol of pride for residents of the island of Saaremaa, reminding those who drove along the Kuivastu-Kuressaare road of the well-known distinction between Estonian as spoken in Saaremaa and Estonian spoken on the mainland. The Saaremaa identity isn’t revealed by pulling off a mask, but by removing the letter “Õ” in favour of the letter “Ö.”

While this sign was removed by the Maanteeamet (Road Administration) due to its incorrect dimensions, a gigantic metal letter “Ö” is soon to be placed in the same area. The municipality will foot the bill for the letter, while the Maanteeamet will install information boards and benches, as well as cleaning up the adjacent parking lot.

While the Õ-Ö exchange is intriguing, it is but one aspect of this murre (“dialect”).

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Photo: Eesti Rahvusringhääling