so how does bilingualism work exactly in Va(a)sa?

glaspalatset · Post by **glaspalatset** » Mon May 04, 2009 5:56 pm

I remember travelling to Vaasa last year.

I tried to order something in this pizzeria shop where there apparently was menu in two languages (just like the other places I visited there).

I tried to speak Swedish but instead they talked back in English.

How come?! Isn't the city supposed to tolerate the bilingualism and even the use of Swedish should be encouraged among folks?

At least they should've said something in Swedish before changing to English...

I know that there are more Finnish speakers than Swedish speakers living there, but it bothered me not even getting to speak Swedish at the time.

**Sponsor:**

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:06 pm

Welcome to reality, sweden is something what should be demolished from finland.

glaspalatset · Post by **glaspalatset** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:13 pm

Perhaps true in Tammerfors... 8)

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:13 pm

Pizzeria often run by immigrants who have only studied Finnish? Possible, no?

glaspalatset · Post by **glaspalatset** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:15 pm

I'm sure they were Finns... judging from their appearance and their accent...

Having said that, I've seen many pizzeria (and kebab) shops run by immigrants in Helsingfors... in there, I wouldn't dare speak Swedish though... (in fact, the only places I felt comfortable speaking it was at Cafe Ekberg and this cafe inside Svenska Teatern)

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:19 pm

I'm waiting for you to say "Äbo", then we know you're trolling

glaspalatset · Post by **glaspalatset** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:29 pm

Speaking of Åbo, it's amazing how this city has come to be so Swedish-unfriendly despite being the site to the country's only 100% Swedish university.

Sometimes I am convinced that the university should be relocated to Pargas, where much more people are apt to speak both languages.

Or maybe Jakobstad. Which I believe is more welcoming to embrace it than in Vasa.

This is time for those who live in bilingual city to wake up and be more aware of their surroundings and learn to speak the other national language--fluently.

Heck, even students from Åland choose to go to Sweden for university studies precisely because of that. (Watch last week's Närbild)

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:03 pm

glaspalatset wrote: How come?! Isn't the city supposed to tolerate the bilingualism and even the use of Swedish should be encouraged among folks?

The Finnish-speakers in a town like Vaasa are not much more likely to speak Swedish than anywhere else. It's simply that Vaasa has more Swedish-speakers than towns with a low Finlandssvensk influence. So the people you encountered spoke English because that was the second language they were able to speak.

Is Swedish your native language? Or did you otherwise learn it outside Finland? Many Finns who have learned some finlandssvenska as a second language will have considerable trouble decoding your pronunciation. They would understand you if they could get from your sounds to the words, although there are striking differences in word usage between rikssvenska and finlandssvenska.

And then of course there is the ethnic tension. There can easily be more of that in an area with a large finlandssvensk population than elsewhere. If you had happened on a restaurant run by finlandssvenskar, they might have been delighted by your effort -- unless you sound like a Brit or American struggling to speak Swedish, in which case they might have responded in English as an act of mercy. Or to show off their English and serve you in the way they assumed would be most comfortable for you.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:07 pm

glaspalatset wrote: I tried to speak Swedish but instead they talked back in English.

Work on the local accent, I don't understand Stockholm either.

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:11 pm

Also, if you are a Swede, finlandssvenskar will feel less cultural commonality with you than you may be supposing. While they would look kindly on you as a tourist, they'd be sensitive to any kind of assumption, real or imagined, that you felt, "Hey, we're all Swedes in this room." They share a language, sort of, with Sweden. Apart from that, not so much. And God help you if you ever compliment them on how well they speak Swedish [all things considered...]. Jörn Donner always used to respond something like "Thank you, you've learned it reasonably well, too."

Bavarian · Post by **Bavarian** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:49 pm

Apparently, if you speak Swedish you can get cheaper bus tickets.

Well, not necessarily in Vaasa, but still....

sinikala · Post by **sinikala** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:43 pm

Doesn´t really add much to the conversation, just as a curiosity really...

there´s a petrol station / ABC-market type place between Vaasa and Kokkola, it´s the only place a shop assistant in Finland has spoken to me in Swedish first.

Which I suppose is the kind of situation that the OP was hoping for.

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:48 pm

sinikala wrote:Doesn´t really add much to the conversation, just as a curiosity really...

there´s a petrol station / ABC-market type place between Vaasa and Kokkola, it´s the only place a shop assistant in Finland has spoken to me in Swedish first.

Which I suppose is the kind of situation that the OP was hoping for.

That was almost my first theft too, i drove thru and refueled in there. After i asked price seller talked swedish to me and didnt stop before i told that ill go then..

glaspalatset · Post by **glaspalatset** » Tue May 05, 2009 4:10 am

[quote="sinikala"]Doesn´t really add much to the conversation, just as a curiosity really...

there´s a petrol station / ABC-market type place between Vaasa and Kokkola, it´s the only place a shop assistant in Finland has spoken to me in Swedish first.

Which I suppose is the kind of situation that the OP was hoping for.[/quote]

Just another reason why Karleby needs to cooperate with the south.

Bubba Elvis XIV · Post by **Bubba Elvis XIV** » Wed May 06, 2009 1:37 am

Happens in Parainen / Pargas. Buy something from the local shop and they usually speak Swedish first, then Finnish....but cos they're saying things twice and therefore faster ..itbecomesthisblurofunintelligablewordstwoeurosandfiftyplease.

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