Would this help?

Tellervo · Post by **Tellervo** » Mon May 23, 2005 4:27 am

I was just thinking...
regarding learning Finnish,
Would it help at all to have Finnish subtitles when watching DVDs? I guess it might a little, but what do you lot think?? A lot of the DVDs here do have Finnish subtitles (man I hope Gone in 60 Seconds has! hehe, I LOVE that movie! :lol )

**Sponsor:**

karen · Post by **karen** » Mon May 23, 2005 4:30 am

Yes, it helps. I've learned a lot from reading subtitles.

Tellervo · Post by **Tellervo** » Mon May 23, 2005 4:36 am

Great! Thanks I will try to remember next time I put one on. I do try to speak more Finnish to my parents, and always when I have someone else around and I don't want them to know what I'm talking about...but usually it's those 'crucial' words that I don't know in Finnish that would give me away! hehehe

mookoo · Post by **mookoo** » Mon May 23, 2005 8:43 am

If you already know some Finnish they can be good practice for reading as well as learning phrases and the "finnish" way of speaking. However, since the translations are not exact, there is a limit to how much you can really learn from them.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon May 23, 2005 9:04 am

I'd say getting a Finnish film and reading the subtitles in English is better. You can start with kaurismäki's "match factory girl" for an easy start (first line is 30 mins into the movie) - the dialogue in his movies is also closer to "book Finnish".

Native · Post by **Native** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:01 am

Most of the Finnish films published on DVD these days have English subtitles. But like Hank said, Kaurismäki is a good way to start since they speak very rigid book Finnish. English language films with subtitles are good too but you have to remember that they have to shorten long speeches into very short sentences.

Andrew_S · Post by **Andrew_S** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:28 pm

Hank W. wrote:I'd say getting a Finnish film and reading the subtitles in English is better. You can start with kaurismäki's "match factory girl" for an easy start (first line is 30 mins into the movie) - the dialogue in his movies is also closer to "book Finnish".

Yes, especially if you're not a beginner. However, reading Finnish subtitles to an English film is great for learning new words and phrases.

It's surprising how often "Oletko kunnossa?" is said

(Are you okay?)

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:12 pm

Yes, I am a robot, I malfunction often.

-I think its better to watch Finnish Films to learn what not to say

Tellervo · Post by **Tellervo** » Tue May 24, 2005 1:44 am

'oletko kunnossa?' would mean more like are you 'working' well wouldn't it? as in functioning?

Thanks for the advice

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue May 24, 2005 9:01 am

It also means if someone asks "oletko kunnossa" if you are visibly not "in good condition". i.e. with a bad hangover, puffed eyelids, tomato eyes, pasty white skin and reek of old booze.

Asking "Are you allright" in Finland is not small-talk, its an insult

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