Languages Category

Finland is a multi-lingual country - Finnish (94%), Swedish (6%) and Sami (0.1%). Thus, it is important to cover this aspect of Finnish culture by a Languages category. This category is further subdivided as follows:

• Finnish Language
• Finno-Ugric Languages
• General Language Links
• Language Studies
• Sami Language
• Swedish Language

Updated: Fri 2 Feb 2007

• A chance to Speak Finnish
  Written for Virtual Finland by Joe Brady. Drawings by Pekka Vuori. Includes greetings and everyday expressions, in a bar or restaurant and in the street. Can click on the Finnish words to hear how to say them.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• A Directory of Finnish Language Schools
  Links to schools that offer courses in Finnish.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• An Introduction to "Finglish"
  An article by Jenni Tuominen. "The term "Finglish&; "was coined by Professor Nisonen at Suomi College in Hancock, Michigan to describe a linguistic phenomenon he encountered in America. As the term implies, Finglish is a mixture of English and Finnish. In Finglish the English lexical items are being nativized and inserted into the framework of Finnish syntax and morphology. Finglish is spoken in daily linguistic contact between Finnish speaking immigrants and speakers of English. Finglish is found in any English-speaking country that has allowed large scale immigration from Finland." ; Sections on: History of the Finns in the USA. The Finglish speech community. Examples of Finglish. The future of Finglish. Bibliography.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Behind the Name - Etymology and History of First Names
  Gives derivation of Finnish given names.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• CIMO - Discover Finland - Studying Finnish
  Information on Education, Training and Youth Issues in Finland. Language schools, summer courses.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Dictionaries, World Languages - Finnish
  Links to Finnish dictionaries (10) and glossaries (4).
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• English Books: Language, Finnish
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish 5-Letter Words
  A humourous article on five-letter Finnish words you should know.
  Updated: Thu 8 Jun 2006
  
  
• Finnish as a World Language?
  A funny, tongue-in-cheek article written by Richard Lewis.
  Updated: Mon 24 Oct 2005
  
  
• Finnish · For Study & Discussion of Finnish Language & Culture
  A list for people studying the Finnish language and/or Finnish culture, whether in Finland or other countries. Primary languages are English and Finnish.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish Genealogical Word List
  A list of Finnish words that you are likely to find in genealogical sources with their English translations. Includes language characteristics.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish Grammar
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish Grammar Bits
  A set of neat, easy-to-understand grammar tutorials for novice Finnish speakers (written by Kimberli Mäkäräinen).
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish Grammar Resources
  Updated: Sat 19 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish language
  Finnish is a member of the Finno-Ugric language family and is classified as an agglutinative language. It modifies the forms of both noun and adjective depending on their roles in the sentence. It has a reputation for being difficult to understand and learn. This is mostly because there are few languages closely related to it, making the vocabulary unfamiliar.
  Updated: Tue 22 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish Pronunciation
  A good intro to Finnish pronunciation. "Finnish pronunciation is rather regular as compared with many other languages. Generally, one letter corresponds to one sound in a fixed manner. This document describes the sounds roughly."
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish Survival Phrases
  The Finnish language lesson offered here is an excerpt from the Finnish Title in Transparent Language's Languages of the World software program.The Basic Finnish Phrases and the Finnish Phrases for Meeting and Greeting will lead you to the Finnish Dialog at the end, which shows how these Finnish survival phrases are used in conversational Finnish.
  Updated: Fri 3 Feb 2006
  
  
• Finnish Tongue Twisters
  From the 1st International Collection of Tongue Twisters. Includes reputedly the longest Finnish word. And rough translations.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finnish Word Lists
  Here are some Finnish words with English translations that appeared on the Finngen E-mail List. These may be helpful and aid in translating genealogical records.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• FINTWOL Finnish morphological analyzer
  "Input a word or phrase, even a sentence from your article, and the morphological analyzer will analyze it -- finding the dictionary form of each word, which you can then look up in the FinnPlace dictionary, along with the word's case or tense or whatever so you can understand its function in the sentence." (Thanks to Mel Green) Using the analyzer demos are not exactly easy to follow.
  Updated: Tue 16 May 2006
  
  
• Forming Finnish Patronymic Names
  General rules for forming the possesive form of a name.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• General Finnish Language Resources
  Includes links to Finnish language lessons, Finnish chat and Finnish dictionaries and translators.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• How to pronounce Finnish names
  Alphabetical list of 1239 samples. Many Finnish names seem quite long and contain strange letters which doesn't make figuring out how to pronounce them very easy. But now this huge problem which has bothered the greatest minds of the world for years has been finally solved :-) Just select one of the nine categories and click on the name you want to hear and you'll soon pronounce Finnish names perfectly!
  Updated: Fri 3 Feb 2006
  
  
• How to Pronounce Finnish Names
  Audio (.wav) pronounciations of names: e.g. Most common baby names (1999, 1998 and 1997). Female names in alphabetical order. Male names in alphabetical order. Last names in alphabetical order and most common last names in Finland. Select geographical names from a map. The site also contains an Alphabetical list and links. Frequent updates.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Learn Finnish Online
  This site is designed as an online starting point for people who want to learn more about the Finnish language.
  Updated: Fri 2 Feb 2007
  
  
• Learn to Speak Finnish
  Learn Finnish online by practicing with a native speaker who is learning your language. Write or speak Finnish online to improve grammar or conversation. Language Exchange via Email, Text Chat and Voice Chat. Fee: $12 US per year.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Learn to Speak Finnish
  Elementary course teaches you how to remember the Finnish that you learn. Commercial site.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Learn to speak Finnish in 3 minutes
  Click on the highlighted Finnish words for audio examples (.wav)
  Updated: Fri 3 Feb 2006
  
  
• Martindale's Language Centre; Languages English-Finnish
  Finnish-English dictionary. Enter your Finnish text ( Max 150 characters) and text is spoken.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Multilingual Books Courses and Software - Finnish
  Books, courses, and software for learning Finnish.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Opiskele (= study! in Finnish)
  "Opiskele ("study!" in Finnish) is a study group for people learning the Finnish language, especially beginning learners. The idea here is to help ourselves and each other make progress in learning Finnish by practicing our language skills with each other. Thus, the primary languages of this list will be: Finnish for actual practice of language skills and English for coordinating the work we do together and for sharing information and tips on the language and how to learn it."
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Origin of Finnish and related languages
  In all, about 23 million people speak the languages of the Finno-Ugrian language family. However, many of the languages are tiny: apart from Finnish, Estonian and Hungarian, they are all threatened minority tongues whose territories lie within the Russian Federatio
  Updated: Fri 4 Nov 2005
  
  
• Say Hello in the Finnish Language
  Finnish language from the "Internet public library", tips and tutorials on learning Finnish, some sound files (Real Audio Player needed).
  Updated: Mon 1 May 2006
  
  
• Some Voice Samples of the Finnish Language
  This site has sound files (voice samples - intonation and tonal structure) of several Finnish city names being spoken i.e., how to pronounce Oulu and Espoo! The site includes a link to an article by Gyula Weöres on "Are the Finnish and Hungarian Languages Related?".
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Tavataan taas! Let's Meet Again - Finnish for Foreigners
  Basic Finnish - vocabulary and grammar plus various phrases. Also some info on Finland.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• The Finnish Case System
  Opens a PDF file.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• The Finnish Language
  Written for Virtual Finland by Hannele Branch, lecturer in Finnish, University of London. Sections on: Who's afraid of Finnish? Where does Finnish come from? The sounds of Finnish. How Finnish words are put together. Nouns and adjectives. Verbs. The awkward bits. What is special about Finnish sentences? Word order in Finnish. Is Finnish a difficult language?
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• The Finnish Language Site - A Finnish Language List
  FinnishL is a free and unmoderated mailing list for anyone interested in learning Finnish. It is intended to be a forum for beginners.
  Updated: Tue 25 Oct 2005
  
  
• The Human Languages Page
  School directories and language resources.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• THE ORIGIN OF FINNISH AND RELATED LANGUAGES
  Finnish belongs to the Baltic-Finnic group of the Finno-Ugrian or Uralic language family. It is the largest language in its group, the next largest being Estonian. The Baltic-Finnic language group is one of the westernmost branches of the Finno-Ugrian language family; only the Sami territory in western and northern Norway extends further west.
  Updated: Thu 14 Sep 2006
  
  
• Trainee's Guide 2000 - The Finnish Language
  The Finnish language is "mostly spoken the same way as it's written, meaning that one letter always corresponds to the same sound, and all letters are clearly pronounced. The stress is always on the first syllable of a word." A table shows some approximations for the sounds of different letters.
  Updated: Sun 23 Oct 2005
  
  
• Transparent Languages - Finnish Language Resources
  Includes many international language links.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Verbix...Ugric languages: Finnish
  Verb conjugations and grammar. Includes a list of The 10000 most frequently used words in Finnish, ordered by frequency. Also segment on Finnish verb types.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Yamada Finnish Language WWW Guide
  Finnish language teaching at the University of Oregon. Some interesting WWW links, Finnish mailing lists and newsgroups. Updated 23 Feb 05
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  

• Endangered Uralic Minority Cultures
  A report re. the preservation of the Uralic languages and culture presented by Mrs Tytti Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, Liberal, Democratic and Reformers' Group. A good summary of the Finno-Ugric groups (especially those in Russia).
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finno-Ugric Linguistics Homepage
  This is a Finno-Ugric (Uralic) site by Tapani Salminen, U of Helsinki. His "studies focus on Finno-Ugrian languages, within them Samoyed languages and the Forest Nenets and Tundra Nenets languages in particular". Links, etc.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• FINNO-UGRIC PEOPLES
  Links for various articles on such items as "The Origin of Finnish and Related Languages"
  Updated: Fri 4 Nov 2005
  
  
• Finno-Ugric Place Names with Prefix Sum
  This section describes similarities in place names - including Finland, Lapp, Vepsä, Karelian, and Perm. Finnish Place Names Based on the Root "Sum".
  Updated: Thu 3 Nov 2005
  
  
• Languages of Finland
  A list of the Living and Extinct languages in Finland and the estimated number of persons using the language. Includes the diferent types of sign languages used
  Updated: Tue 25 Oct 2005
  
  
• Some Finno-Ugric Links
  Frequently Asked Questions about Finno-Ugrian languages. Finno-Ugrian language studies. Some universities with Finnish or Finno-Ugrian departments or institutes. Research institutes & projects. Societies. Publications. Other WWW links to Finno-Ugrian nations and countries. Mailing lists.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Uralica
  Uralica, a site by Ferenc Válóczy, is devoted to Uralic languages and cultures. Includes resources for various Uralic languages and cultures plus Uralic language- and culture-related links.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Uralic & Samojedic Corner
  The Rijksuniversiteit Groningen is the only university in the Netherlands where students are able to study Finnish, Hungarian and Fenno-Ugristics as main subjects. This site has a substantial number of links on Uralic and Finno-Ugric linguistics, dictionaries & grammers of the Uralic languages, newspapers and literature in those languages plus newsgroups and other links.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Uralic Links
  A table of links to each of the Uralic languges. Most texts in English.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Uralic People
  Links to many of the following topics: Finno-Ugric People. Historical Maps showing original Finno-Ugric place names. Story From Seven Brothers (in a sauna) by Alexis Kivi. Early Finno-Ugric and Finnish History. Finno-Ugric Place names based on the root "Sum". Finno-Ugric Cooperation Today. Classification of Uralic Languages. Kalevala Land of Heroes. Finnish Sauna Culture. The Finnish Language: Introduction. Understanding Finnish: read and listen. Finland at war: WW2: Winter War and Continuation War. Human Rights and Religion. Cultural Topics. Selection of Finnish History, Literature and Movies. Uralic City Center - where you can find books, CDs, Videos etc.. Finnish Song Book - words and notes.
  Updated: Tue 27 Jun 2006
  
  
• Window to the Finno-Ugric World (SURI)
  Information centre of Finno-Ugric peoples. The aim of SURI is to collect and disseminate information on Uralic studies (Finno-Ugric studies) and the Finno-Ugric and Samoyed peoples and their culture. Objectives, Activities, Publications, International Co-operation. Informative table showing Uralic languages & Links.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  

• Employment of foreigners hampered by language barriers and attitudes
  Article by By Vellamo Vehkakoski, Helsingin Sanomat.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Euromosaic: Finnish in Sweden
  General information on the Finnish language community. Presence and use of the Finnish language in various fields.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Language Technology Documentation Centre in Finland
  This site is being developed by and maintained by the Department of General Linguistics in the University of Helsinki.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• National Minorities in Finland
  Written for Virtual Finland by Frank Horn, professor The Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law University of Lappland. A historical treatment of the subject which includes: The Finland Swedes or the Swedish Speakers of Finland. The Autonomous Regime of Åland. The Sami (Lapps). The Rom. The Old Russians. Jewry in Finland. The Tatars.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• NeuroTran - language translation software
  What is NeuroTran®? NeuroTran® is a software translator which translates web pages, e-mail, faxes, memos, manuals, reports, spreadsheets, correspondence, letters and more to and from a foreign language.
  Updated: Tue 25 Oct 2005
  
  
• Research Institute for the Languages of Finland
  A very informative website on languages of Finland with segments on: The Research Institute, its mandate and contact information. Language Planning. The Department of Swedish. Publications. Dictionaries. Research Projects. Library. Archives. On Language. Finnish, Swedish, Finnish Sign Language (The Finnish sign language is the mother tongue of ca. 4,000–5,000 deaf people.), Romani, Saami, Finno-Ugric Language.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• The Origin of Finnish and Related Languages
  Written for Virtual Finland by Ulla-Maija Kulonen, Professor, Department of Finno-Ugrian Studies, University of Helsinki. Sections on: Present-day Finno-Ugrian languages and their territories. The Baltic-Finnic group. The Saami language group. Central Russia is home to the Mari, the Mordvin, the Komi and the Udmurt. The Mari and the Mordvin language. Permian languages. Ugric languages.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• The Patrin Web Journal: Gypsies Still on the Fringe in Finland
  An article by Wendy Sloane on "Finland's Romani, as Gypsies call themselves worldwide, are 6,500 to 10,000 strong outnumbering the roughly 2,500 indigenous Samis, or Lapps."
  Updated: Wed 7 Dec 2005
  
  

• A Chance to Speak Finnish
  Click on Directory/Travel Information. Everyday spoken expressions - Greetings / In a bar or restaurant / On the street.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• CASE Learning Systems
  CASE Learning Systems, based in Philadelphia, PA - USA is one of leading developers of multimedia based Scandinavian language learning programs. Our vision for multimedia language is to offer the user an enriched learning environment with the help of sound, text and video dialogs.
  Updated: Wed 1 Mar 2006
  
  
• Education for Foreigners in Finland
  The aim of education for foreigners is to give them the resources to function as equal members of Finnish society while maintaining their own cultural identity.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Foreign Language Courses given at Columbia University, School of Continuing Education
  Includes a course in Finnish.
  Updated: Mon 31 Jul 2006
  
  
• National Audiovisual Center
  National Technical Information Service (NTIS) through the National Audiovisual Center provides audiovisual courses on various languages for government Foreign Service people, e.g. conversational and formal Finnish. Audiocassettes with accompanying text and workbooks can be purchased by citizens of US and foreign countries. Purchasing info given.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• National Institute for Summer Scandinavian Studies
  Includes a course for intensive Elementary Finnish.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Salolampi Village
  The Finnish Language Village dedicated to immersion education in the Finnish culture and language for young people 7 to 18 years of age in the summer and also for adults 19 to 90 in the spring and fall. A bit of Finland in northern Minnesota, near Bemidji on Turtle River Lake. Operated by the Concordia College Language Villages Program. Includes a News and Events section.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Unforgettable Languages - Finnish
  Two hundred page downloadable survival course. A language course designed to rapidly teach a targeted vocabulary in 2-3 hours!
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Univ. of California, Berkeley - Finnish Studies homepage
  Information about studying Finnish at the University of California at Berkeley and the resources available as well as links related to Finland, Finnish, Finland-Swedish, and Saami.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  

• The Sami in Finland
  A concise treatment of the Samis in Finland.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Unesco Red Book on Endangered Languages: Europe, Sami
  Report compiled and written by Tapani Salminen 1993-1996. For Sami languages, it includes: South Sami, Ume Sami, Pite Sami, Lule Sami, North Sami, Kemi Sami, Inari Sami, Skolt Sami, Akkala Sami, Kildin Sami, Ter Sami under the topic headings: Variant spellings, Geographic locations (not all the above-named Samis were in Finland), Present State of the Language and Sources.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  

• Dictionaries, World Languages - Swedish
  Links to Swedish dictionaries.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Germanic languages: Swedish
  Swedish is the national language of Sweden. It is spoken by 9 million native speakers in Sweden and Finland. It's a Germanic language. Conjugate swedish verbs.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Learn to Speak Swedish
  Learn Swedish online by practicing with a native speaker who is learning your language. Write or speak Swedish online to improve grammar or conversation. Language Exchange via Email, Text Chat and Voice Chat. Fee: $12 US per year.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Some Notes on the Swedish Language
  The Swedish language is a part and parcel of the Indo-European languages, stretching from India to Europe and through migration to the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America. The language is a part of the North Germanic languages and is identified as an East Scandinavian variant together with Danish. The west branch includes Norwegian and Icelandic.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Swede-Finns (in Finland)
  Includes a map of Finland showing Swedish speaking population centers. Also lists in tabular form all these towns with links.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Swedish: a language of Sweden
  Also spoken in Finland where 5.7% of the population are Swedish speakers.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Swedish in Finland
  Article written for Virtual Finland by Henrik Ekberg, Ph.D. (Pol.Sc.). History. Language Laws. Cultural Life. Includes a table showing Finland's Swedish-speaking population from 1610 to 1995. The percent of the total poulation steadily dropped from 17.5% to just under 6%.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• Swedish in Finland
  By the Research Centre of Wales. General information on the language community. Presence and use of Swedish in various fields. Conclusions. An excellent overview.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• The Swede-Finn population
  A page from The Swedish Finn Historical Society website listing towns and municipalities in Finland where Swedish is spoken. The page includes a "% of population" column.
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005
  
  
• The Swedish Schoolnet: Swedish-English Dictionary
  Updated: Sun 20 Nov 2005