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. What is different in Finnish? ● No articles Auto ● a car, the car No grammatical gender Hän he, she Endings and suffixes ● ● 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. Example of word formation 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 Compound words  Sana (word) + kirja (book) => sanakirja  Tieto (knowledge) + kone (machine) => tietokone  Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoali- upseerioppilas  Guinness World Records 2006 Written and spoken language ● ● 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 language: Spoken language: Dialects: Minä olen Mää oon, mie oon, Mä oon I am mää ole... Something familiar? ● ● 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. Do you know what these mean? taksi rokki bussi musiikki pubi presidentti filmi teatteri hotelli banaani posti museo pankki Two official languages ● ● ● 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 General signs and notices ● ● 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 TERVE! Practise Finnish! MOIKKA! ● HEI! MOI! HYVÄÄ PÄIVÄÄ! MIKÄ SINUN NIMESI ON? MINUN NIMENI ON... HAUSKA TUTUSTUA! KIITOS SAMOIN! NÄHDÄÄN! ● Hyöhen löytyi yöllä työpöydältä. ● ● ● ● ● ● Hello! Good day! What's your name? My name is... Nice to meet you! Thank you, same! See you! 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!