Swedish speaking areas in Finland

[elijahpaul]

I know it's too early but, WELCOME TO FINLAND!

[Jukka Aho]

I wanted to know about language use in Finland.

Getting back to that topic, Swedish is generally enough to both survive and feel at home in the blue areas of that Wikipedia map. Outside those areas, not so much... and for the better or worse, you’ll be missing out on the mainstream Finnish culture. (Swedish speakers do have a cultural identity on their own... not too separate from the general Finnish existence, but not exactly the same, either.)

But naturally, learning Swedish is usually less effort for an English speaker than learning Finnish. Swedish and English are related, after all, and structurally similar, and share a lot of familiar-sounding vocabulary, with slight modifications. Whether this is enough to make it an alluring stepping stone for someone who wants to integrate quickly or merely a distraction on the path to learning Finnish (if you want to tackle the country as whole and not just the Swedish speaking bubble) is anyone’s guess, and depends on your goals, motivations, and personal determination.

[AnalystTherapist]

I wanted to know about language use in Finland.

Getting back to that topic, Swedish is generally enough to both survive and feel at home in the blue areas of that Wikipedia map. Outside those areas, not so much... and for the better or worse, you’ll be missing out on the mainstream Finnish culture. (Swedish speakers do have a cultural identity on their own... not too separate from the general Finnish existence, but not exactly the same, either.)

But naturally, learning Swedish is usually less effort for an English speaker than learning Finnish. Swedish and English are related, after all, and structurally similar, and share a lot of familiar-sounding vocabulary, with slight modifications. Whether this is enough to make it an alluring stepping stone for someone who wants to integrate quickly or merely a distraction on the path to learning Finnish (if you want to tackle the country as whole and not just the Swedish speaking bubble) is anyone’s guess, and depends on your goals, motivations, and personal determination.

This is an excellent place to end this thread. Thanks to everyone for replying to the original topic of language in Finland. I've learned that learning Swedish may not be the best choice if I end up staying in Finland since it is only a statutory language. Effectively, Finnish and English are best to use.

Thanks again.

[Pursuivant]

Ummm... I think you missed a history class in school, as the chicanos were actually the ones accommodating the immigrant gringos in California. See now what happens when you don't put rules on immigrants?

[AnalystTherapist]

LOL

[browndude]

"I want to move to USA and I heard learning French is easy... Should I move to New Orleans or to Michigan Upper Peninsula? "

I have been to Louisiana, and whatever they speak, it sure ain´t French

[AnalystTherapist]

LOL

[AldenG]

"I want to move to USA and I heard learning French is easy... Should I move to New Orleans or to Michigan Upper Peninsula? "

I have been to Louisiana, and whatever they speak, it sure ain´t French

More and more it's Cajun English rather than Cajun French, and it's like the smattering of remembered words and phrases used by descendants of other ethnicities who claim to "speak" the language of the Old Country. It's painful when a German-descendant farmer claims to speak some German and then meets an actual German. The 15 words he almost knows don't get him very far. At least the Cajuns did for a long time maintain a true mostly-French dialect if they were isolated enough or had a critical mass of other Cajuns around them. It may be fun to let loose every now and then with a Laissez les bons temps rouler, but it's not enough by itself to keep you Cajun in anything but ancestry.

[foca]

And on a side note: No one is entitled to live in any country they are not a native of, be it the US, Finland, Sweden, whatever. It is a privilege to do so. This IS the American way - come to this country, learn English, and assimilate just like everyone else did.

I do not remember European immigrants learning Navaho or Cherokee - and they should gave done that , following your logic.........

[AnalystTherapist]

LOL

[AnalystTherapist]

LOL

[browndude]

It seems this thread has degenerated into a political discussion. Of course it is fashionable these days to bash the US. As someone who lived there for a long time, I can tell you that there are some wonderful people and great opportunities over there. At the same time, there are also huge injustices and problems. As with anything, making broad generalizations are just stupid and ignorant.

[Pursuivant]

Well, the thing is of you get into Hanken, its again the other way around as thats the school for the "better people" so you'd be in a Swedish enclave. So learning Swedis would make the most sense.

And if you get upset of this thread, you say you are28, and ypu are going to some ecohippie liberal school, and your ass can' take seawater?

[AnalystTherapist]

LOL

[gfunho]

One funny advantage - and in line with what others have said. Finns dislike speaking Swedish, so it actually prompts them to speak English. E.g. Ask many (sober) Finns if they speak English they'll answer "no". Follow this up by asking if they prefer Swedish and Hey Presto they are willing to try English!

It seems that this "trick" works like a charm when somebody "refuses" to give you service in english.
If you request the service in the official swedish , suddenly there is somebody willing to help you in english

It even works when calling service phone numbers. Sometimes the queue is way smaller and they do speak english too !!