18 And coming to Finland by myself.. Good idea?

[Londonchris]

Being able to utter a few phrases and be understood is ok, but to understand anything said back is another matter

Have fun.

[ScubaGirl]

I MOVED to Norway from the USA all by myself when I was only 17. You'll be fine

[sammy]

the lyrics have helped me with pronouncing the words...

...I hope you haven't been listening to Verjnuarmu

http://www.verjnuarmu.net/

Kurjuuvven valssi

Elokuulla korjoon kuollutta vilijoo, syyssatteet alako jo kesäkuulla
Kotväkj´ itköö pirtissä hilijoo, taetaa talavella näläkä tulla
On mutasta velliä pellot täännä ja työhevosen valjaattii poekki
Et v!%# sitä paskoo millään kiännä, taetaa tuoni korjata kaekki

Vuojenajat hilijoo tulloo, elämänlanka haarastuu
Taejjan perkele tarttuva pulloon, ku jokkaenen meistä saerastuu
Sato mänj´ pilalle ruuattii loppuu, toevos jo vaehteluva viärälle siälle
Nuapurit kuolj' isorokkoon, joettii tuluvii pellon piälle

Ensjlumi tulloo hiutaleet puttoo, kaanistaa hetkeks kuollutta muata
Kuolema leijjaellen seittejään kuttoo, eekö tuo lie kohta haataan suata
Pakkanen purroo hirret jiähän, ku leivinuuni halakes eilen
v!%# tuas ottaa jouluna piähän, kylymä pirtti tuo pahan mielen

[Rosamunda]

But I've been using "Talk Now! Finnish" and iv'e learnt everything from that, and since then iv'e been learning basic words, animals, natural forms (rocks, ocean, etc.) Shapes, etc. etc.

Interesting. I have heard other people say the same thing. It may be "easy" to read the words because they are spelt phonetically.

Unfortunately it doesn't help much to learn lists of nouns in their nominative form. One day you will have to bite the bullet and take a look at the chapter on noun inflections.... If you are good at memorising vocabulary then try learning chunks of language instead... ie short sentences.
HTH

[Jotunheim]

Apparently Finns are shy, so i won't have to worry about what's being said (I realize this is a ridiculous statement )

From the USA? Wow, big move there, bet that was an adventure and a half

Verjnuarmu are so good, but i know they're lyrics are very different from "Everyday Finnish"

You suggest learning chunks of phrases? I could be doing that, but i thought it would be better learning the seperate words I guess i'll get down to learning chunks then =]

[Karhunkoski]

Echo Penelope. I would strongly advise against putting too much emphasis on learning lists of words - by the time Finnish grammar has raped a word, it is quite possible you wouldn't decipher it's original form anyway (did you say you had learnt any grammatical inflections?). Much better (at your age) to learn phrases and try to develop a natural feel for the grammar in use, without having to learn all the rules and then try to apply them at conversation speed, which is, for most people, farking impossible

[EP]

lyrics are very different from "Everyday Finnish"

That is because they are everyday Savo

[Hank W.]

Yeah, there is the slight difference between that people can speak English and if they will speak.. anything. Proverbially, Finland is a country with bilingual silence.

[sammy]

Echo Penelope. I would strongly advise against putting too much emphasis on learning lists of words - by the time Finnish grammar has raped a word, it is quite possible you wouldn't decipher it's original form anyway (did you say you had learnt any grammatical inflections?). Much better (at your age) to learn phrases and try to develop a natural feel for the grammar in use, without having to learn all the rules and then try to apply them at conversation speed, which is, for most people, farking impossible

An excerpt from Blackadder the 3rd springs to mind here

Edmund: [sitting at the table] Do you speak English?

Frou Frou: A little...

Edmund: Yes, when you say "a little," what exactly do you mean? I mean, can we talk? Or are we going to spend the rest of the afternoon asking each other the way to the beach in very loud voices?

Frou Frou: Ah, no. I can, er, order coffee, deal with waiters, make sexy chit-chat with girls - that type of thing.

Edmund: Oh, good.

Frou Frou: Just don't ask me to take a physiology class or direct a light opera.

[Karhunkoski]

Thanks sammy, good that.

[enk]

by the time Finnish grammar has raped a word, it is quite possible you wouldn't decipher it's original form anyway (did you say you had learnt any grammatical inflections?).

What you mean like the following type:

yö - yötä - öitä - öisin - yöllä

Welcome to reality

-enk

[Karhunkoski]

by the time Finnish grammar has raped a word, it is quite possible you wouldn't decipher it's original form anyway (did you say you had learnt any grammatical inflections?).

What you mean like the following type:

yö - yötä - öitä - öisin - yöllä

Welcome to reality

-enk

Exactly that enk, thanks!

(I was going to attempt an example myself but feared I would be HD&Q if I slipped up, which I probably would)

[Marjo]

Tuska festival is brilliant - just bring your own toilet paper as they never have enough...
You'll be fine - I suppose same rules apply than if you were to travel any where else - don't get stone cold drunk and keep your maalaisjarki (common sense) with you and you will be ok!

happy headbanging

[donald]

Jotunheim, even if I was confidential you could learn Finnish by the book you use - it's gonna be a lot harder to teach the Finns to talk by the book you use.

No, really, I don't believe you'd face serious problems over here no matter how good or bad your Finnish skills are.

[HzE]

Any Hotels you suggest, which would allow me to be within reach of the Festival (Apparently it's right next door to the train station..?) And allow me to have a wander around the Metropolitan area, ya know?

Everytime in Tuska I have stayed at Academica.
It's open during the summer (1st June to 1st September). Perhaps not the closest one, but definately not very far away either (perhaps 15-20 minutes depending how much alcohol you're carrying )