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Introduction to Finnish Language and Culture
Jenni Laine 9.6.2015
Finnish language - different, not difficult
● Finnish belongs to the Finno-Ugrian language
family (like Estonian and Hungarian).
● Therefore the structure and the vocabulary of
Finnish language differ from the most
European languages.
● No articles
Auto a car, the car
● No grammatical gender
Hän he, she
What is different in Finnish?
● The basic principle of word formation in
Finnish is the additions of endings and suffixes
to the words.
● The Finnish language has many case endings
which correspond often to the prepositions or
other individual words in other languages.
Endings and suffixes
auto a car
-ssa in
auto+ssa in a car
-ni my (possessive suffix)
-kin also, too
auto+ssa+ni+kin = in my car, too
Example of word formation
Compound words
Sana (word) + kirja (book) => sanakirja
Tieto (knowledge) + kone (machine) => tietokone
Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoali-upseerioppilas
Guinness World Records 2006
● Written language (standard, literary Finnish) is
used in newspapers, instructions, formal
situations, books, news etc.
● Spoken language (colloquial Finnish) is used
in daily communication.
Written and spoken language
Written language: Minä olen
I am
Spoken language:
Mä oon
Dialects: Mää oon, mie oon,
mää ole...
● Finnish language has quite many international
words, borrowed from the Indo-European
languages (mainly Swedish and English).
● Loan words have been ”Finnishized”, adjusted
to Finnish ortography and pronunciation.
Something familiar?
Do you know what these mean? taksi
bussi
pubi
filmi
hotelli
posti
pankki
rokki
musiikki
presidentti
teatteri
banaani
museo
● Finland has two official languages, Finnish and
Swedish.
● Approximately 6 % of Finns speak Swedish as
their mother tongue.
● Many places have a Finnish and a Swedish
name:
Turku Åbo
Helsinki Helsingfors
Porvoo Borgå
Two official languages
● Especially in the coastal areas general signs and notices are in both languages.
● Sometimes it may be easier to understand the Swedish word!
Finnish Swedish English
ravintola restaurang restaurant
yliopisto universitet university
asema station station
General signs and notices
● HEI! MOI! Hello!
● HYVÄÄ PÄIVÄÄ! Good day!
● MIKÄ SINUN NIMESI ON? What's your name?
● MINUN NIMENI ON... My name is...
● HAUSKA TUTUSTUA! Nice to meet you!
● KIITOS SAMOIN! Thank you, same!
● NÄHDÄÄN! See you!
● Hyöhen löytyi yöllä työpöydältä.
Practise Finnish! MOIKKA!
TERVE!
ADVICE FOR FOREIGNERS By Finnish summer course students
Ole ajoissa!
• Be on time!
Syö salmiakkia ja
korvapuustia!
• Eat salmiakki and
cinnamon bun!
Käy saunassa!
• Go to sauna!
Pukeudu lämpimästi
talvella!
• Dress warmly in the
winter!
Käy Lapissa!
• Visit Lapland!
Kävele luonnossa!
• Walk in the nature!
Opiskele suomea!
• Study Finnish!
Hyvää kesää ja kiitos!
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