decllning ruoka

[onkko]

I say ruuan.

[Jukka Aho]

Do you say ruuan or ruoan?

This is one of those words where the idea of Finnish as a nearly phonetically transcribed language breaks down. Probably even the YLE newscasters pronounce it ruuan. (Ruoan is just... too much effort and exercise for your mouth.)

Although not the same thing, you might have heard some of these in the wild:

(written → pronounced)
vauva → vauvva
eläkeläinen → eläkelläinen
hernekeitto → hernekkeitto
syöpä → syöppä (as a suggestion, syö+pä – not “cancer”)
olepa → oleppa
katsopa → katsoppa
tulepa → tuleppa
mene kotiin → menek-kotiin
tule tänne → tulet-tänne

More about those here.
 

[Jukka Aho]

Are you Yucca Korpela? You linked to his site and I see you are Jukka also...

Dr. Livingstone, I presume? (No? But you both share the same first name...! :)

Nope, but Mr. Korpela is a well-known figure... and something of a local “Internet celebrity”. He’s been highly active for years in both English and Finnish Usenet/netnews newsgroups (in particular Sfnet, the oldest Finnish netnews hierarchy) and his web site also gets lots of visitors from both Finland and abroad.

[silk]

Are you Yucca Korpela? You linked to his site and I see you are Jukka also...

Dr. Livingstone, I presume? (No? But you both share the same first name...!

Nope, but Mr. Korpela is a well-known figure... and something of a local “Internet celebrity”. He’s been highly active for years in both English and Finnish Usenet/netnews newsgroups (in particular Sfnet, the oldest Finnish netnews hierarchy) and his web site also gets lots of visitors from both Finland and abroad.

So the answer is no...I too thought maybe, just maybe... And it wasn't just the name...

[EP]

Right now I am writing a brochure for a cooking book. And I write it ruoan. Two writings are correct: ruuan and ruoan.

[Jukka Aho]

Yes, Jukka Aho's English is no phenomenally good

Thanks, finally someone who gives me his honest view on this matter. :D

Well even if he is not the same person, Jukka Aho can still be our celebrity here.

I’ll try to live up to that standard. (Maybe I could sell mugs or T shirts to my fans...)

[silk]

[Tuonelan Joutsen]

I’ll try to live up to that standard. (Maybe I could sell mugs or T shirts to my fans...)

Man, I'd totally wear a T-shirt that said stuff about Finnish grammar on it.

[silk]

I was thinking of getting a T-shirt saying "I aM SURVIVING THE CREDIT CRUNCH". What do you think?

This too shall pass...

[Jukka Aho]

Have you spent time in England?

England – or GB and Ireland at large – is definitely on my list of places to visit... but as far as English-speaking countries go, I’ve only set my foot on Canadian and American (US) soil, and only for a couple of weeks at that.

[silk]

I’ve only set my foot on Canadian and American (US) soil, and only for a couple of weeks at that.

Where in Canada? Vancouver?

[Jukka Aho]

I’ve only set my foot on Canadian and American (US) soil, and only for a couple of weeks at that.

Where in Canada? Vancouver? :D

No, unfortunately not Vancouver. :) A couple of days in Toronto and then a quick drive to Niagara Falls... then over the border to the U.S. side.