The role of English in the Nordic countries

[Karhunkoski]

On the subject of politeness, you can always tell whensomeone's had finnish lessons - when addressing a stranger they say Haistakaa v!%#...

Best laugh all day, thanks Mook.

[llewellyn]

well, instead of saisinko, I use kiitos instead.

Olut, kiitos vs Saisinko oluen

That's what I say too as a native speaker, "kolmostuoppi, kiitos", works excellently - I guess some people leave even that out, but then you can use even your tone of voice to indicate a certain acceptable level of politeness. Conditional is often used for the purpose too and other indirect sentence forms. Politeness can get pretty subtle and minimalistic with Finns and Finnish, and it certainly does not translate very well directly into languages like English where you pretty much must have that please there, or that strange "how are you" question that is not a real question. (I'm pretty comfortable with spoken English - it's been my home language since 2001, but I still find it quite weird and stilted using that phrase.) But this minimalism and indirectness absolutely do not mean that you wouldn't have the concept (and expectation) of a certain level of politeness in your social interactions. This no doubt is true of all human cultures (and languages).

[sammy]

well, instead of saisinko, I use kiitos instead.

Olut, kiitos vs Saisinko oluen

That's what I say too as a native speaker, "kolmostuoppi, kiitos", works excellently

Yes to be honest, that "saisinko" does sound a bit formal - I just put that in as an example... but then again I do tend to use the conditional -isi words myself from time to time, albeit in somewhat less informal inflexions like saisinksmä tuopin tuota vehnäolutta, kiitos or voisitsä laittaa tuollaista portteria kiitos - however usually I also tend to go for the simpler "kiitos" at the end...

I don't think there are many natives actually saying things like "hoi, arvon tarjoilijaneitokainen - en kai liene liiallisen tunkeileva jos tiedustelen, olisiko suinkin mahdollista käydä kauppaa tuopposesta tuota maanmainiota Karhu-mallasjuomaa, sitten kun Teille parhaiten sopii, kiitos"

[Tiwaz]

Considering they are not supposed to sell you more alcohol once you get drunk enough it is reasonable not to say anything like that.

1) Saying that when you are totally drunk is impossible

2) It is impossible to say that without appearing to be drunk or insane

[Hank W.]

Maybe after a while - after Finns are exposed to the foreign 'pleases' - they will sharpen their linguistic archaelogical tools and come up with equivalent words or expressions. And USE them

There is. Haven't you listened youth???

Can I please have a light - Anna v!%# tulta.
Could you please hold the door. - Avaa v!%# se ovi.