Talking to Foreigners in Finnish

[Qianin]

From the perspective of a native tongue, how do you talk to foreigners in Finnish? Especially those who are still learning.. Do you start talking like a book, just talk normally or find middle ground? I get easily confused in such situations, wobbling somewhere around formal and informal.

I know in some languages it seems almost impossible for locals to talk in a way that would help understanding. In a studying environment however I do see the advantages of that. For example in my experience the Japanese are kind enough to speak very clearly to you but if you just get used to that way of speaking, then you don't understand anything when they talk to each other

What about the learners themselves, how would you like to be treated?

[Sharky]

In my experience (here now 8+ years), some Finns are naturally able to adjust their language or dialect to help a foreigner understand (the ideal situation) and some just aren't. I don't think it's necessarily a choice they can make or change.

Language courses have a big impact too. Especially the lower level classes I attended were all focussed towards official language & grammar. For me it meant a slower start to understanding life outside the classroom, but I believe I'm better off for it in the long term. Being able to speak and write correctly is ultimately more important (in my view) and is largely what's needed to pass the YKI testi. There was a very clear and interesting difference between those in the classes who spoke English and not. Without English as an option, informal language seems to develop much faster, out of necessity I presume, but seemed to make learning the official language & grammar much harder.

In daily life now, I try to comment my preference when first meeting someone where'll there'll be real conversation and if language is questioned. Nowadays I usually ask to start out in Finnish and I'll say if I don't understand something that I really need to. Most Finns are fine with that, but some prefer to use English instead (mutually easier, or they like the chance to speak English with a native speaker) and that's fine also. Give and take. Typically the initially used language sticks for good, so to have more Finnish language contacts can require an initial effort to start out and stay that way.

If I don't understand something, the ideal for me is they'd firstly try rephrasing / simplifying, before translating. That works best with those that really don't speak English comfortably and on some occasions has been quite fun for both, like playing Alias or Pictionary! I also try to clarify back in my own words where for example something is being decided, "Eli, minun seuraava ajanvaraus on perjantaina 15.3 klo 15..." and they'll surely then correct that if needed.

Hope that helps your research.

[Sami-Is-Boss]

It's a point that's been made many times, but English speakers are used to speaking slower and adjusting language when talking to foreigners because bad English is more common and more acceptable, but Finns aren't. I prefer to stick to Finnish (them switching to English is pretty embarrassing) and keep on trying, because learning a language takes @#$% ages and there are no shortcuts

[ritan7471]

My Finnish is still not that great but I can only communicate in Finnish with my inlaws as they don't speak any English.

It's actually easier for me to get on in Finnish with someone that doesn't, or who refuses for some reason, to speak English with me. Then I have to stretch my brain and use every way to get my point across.

I prefer, at this moment, that someone first speak slowly and correctly. While I know that understanding colloquial Finnish is important, I am more likely to understand slow and correct Finnish than spoken Finnish.

It's always nice when someone is patient enough to keep talking until it clicks and I understand. Those people are the best because they are also more likely to stroke my ego by praising my efforts and also more likely to correct me in a friendly way.

My mother in law is a wonderful Finnish tutor. She talks to me and stretches the vocabulary and subject matter until I don't understand anymore, and then tries to explain new vocabulary to me until we can finish our conversation. Of course you can't find people with that kind of time and patience on the street!

I seem to always end up with the person at the bank or tax authority that can't speak English, or is reluctant to, so I get lots of opportunities to improve my Finnish

[Pursuivant]

moi, minä tarzan, sinä kaunis, mennään meille ja heitetään simpanssi pihalle...

well, works with the foreign women - if you manage to see one in Finland...

[ruusu25]

I appreciate when Finns speak slightly slower with me but don't adjust their vocabulary. That way, whenever I encounter a new word or phrase (regardless of whether it's proper Finnish or puhekieli), I can clarify its meaning and learn it. I find that I gain a stronger sense of the nuances that distinguish near-synonyms when people explain new terms to me in Finnish. I try to train myself to understand normally paced speech by watching TV and listening to people talk amongst themselves on the bus and metro, but when I'm actively engaged in a conversation, it's important to me to try to understand as much as possible. That way, I am able to give more thoughtful responses (and therefore exercise more grammar and vocabulary).

[ruusu25]

(Of course, when I first arrived here and knew very little Finnish, then it was much more helpful for people to speak as simply as possible, just so I could grow comfortable with speaking in the first place. I think that after the first few sentences of a conversation, it becomes easier to get a general sense of what level of Finnish the foreigner has, and you'll sense whether you need to simplify things or carry on at a more natural level. At least, I have noticed Finns somewhat instinctively adjusting their level of speech if I seem to need too many clarifications.)

[007]

I began with learning written language, that's the most natural way for me as I can remember seeing the written words than listening. Some people are amazingly good at capturing heard words, street smart people. They are usually the ones who develop the spoken language skills at an amazing speed. Now me being on the other side, I prefer reading as it helps enhance my vocabularies as well as grammars used. That does not mean that I don't listen. I listen radio everyday and watch finnish videos. It helps understand people speak. So me at this stage find it irritating when a finn tries to slow down the speech so that I can understand it, but such cases are very rare. Finns speak either english, which is quite often, I don't know why or Finnish in their natual way. My understanding (guessing + knowing) of finnish language at the moment: Written language 70%-100%, spoken language 30%-100%. however both speaking and writing suck. Not sure if I can make a single sentence without flaws.

Kyläläiset conversation is very hard to understand. Not only because of dialect but also because they talk about things in their own ways... making it difficult to use intuition. so, they can slow their speech down more than possible and avoid using words unique to them.

[jahasjahas]

I feel overly pedantic pointing this out, but here goes.

Puhekieli isn't any less "proper" than kirjakieli, although I understand that language learners would be happy if everyone just spoke kirjakieli

[007]

I feel overly pedantic pointing this out, but here goes.

Puhekieli isn't any less "proper" than kirjakieli, although I understand that language learners would be happy if everyone just spoke kirjakieli

ya, like in old movies