Seto (; ) is a dialect of South Estonian spoken by 25,080 people. It is sometimes identified as a variety under Võro, or the two are described as Võro-Seto. Setos () mostly inhabit the area near Estonia's southeastern border with Russia in Setomaa, and are primarily Eastern Orthodox, while Võros () are traditionally Lutherans and live in historical Võru County.
Phonology
Vowels
- Vowel length is also distinctive.
Consonants
- Stop, affricate and fricative sounds can also be heard as voiced and , when between vowels or within voiced consonants. They also may be written as such .
- Other sounds appear only in loanwords.
Language sample
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
- Seto:
- Võro:
- Estonian:
- Finnish:
- English: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
References