MEARKA

Statped

About this app

Mearka contains 1000 characters from Norwegian sign language and 255 characters used by sign language users in the North Sami language environment. In the dictionary, the characters are presented with both Norwegian and North Sami display words.
The Sami sign language community is limited, and it is not possible to see that there is a Sami sign language in Norway. In Sami-speaking environments that use signs, signs from the Norwegian sign language with a Sami oral position are mainly used. However, it has been observed that Sami sign language speakers use their own signs related to Sami culture and way of life. The 255 Sami characters published in this app have been used in the North Sami language area.
In Mearka, the 1000 Norwegian characters from Norwegian sign language with a Norwegian oral position are presented. The 255 Sami characters have a Sami mouth position. The presentation of the Sami characters in the app has its own background with colors from the Sami flag. Under settings you can choose which language you want in the display words for the characters; Northern Sámi, Northern Sámi / Norwegian or Norwegian / Northern Sámi. In the latter two, you can choose whether you want to write North Sami or Norwegian words in search of characters. And both the North Sami and the Norwegian word will be visible together with the video of the sign.
Some of the characters are grouped in separate group lists. Among other things, you can see group list with only Sami characters, reindeer herding, duodji and genus. You can also create your own list of selected characters. Click the star below the video window to save the character to your favorites. The turtle allows you to play the character at a slow pace. With the arrows you can choose whether you want to play the character several times. If you press the share symbol, you can send some characters, or a link to download the app to others.
The Mearka app has been developed by Statped in collaboration with Sami special educational support (SEAD), and with financial support from the Sami Parliament. The first version was launched in 2018, and the update in 2022 contains 152 new characters from the North Sami language environment.