Finland Languages: Difference between revisions

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{{Finland-sidebar}}<br>''[[Finland Genealogy|Finland]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Finland Language and Languages|Language and Languages]]''
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Since Finnish was not an official language in Finland until 1863, most records were written in Swedish. To do research in these records, you will need to know some Swedish and Finnish key words and phrases. Also, remember that Orthodox church records were written in Russian until after Finnish independence. Recently the Same language (Lappish) has also become an official language in Finland.  
==Description==
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_language '''Finnish'''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_language '''Swedish'''] are the two main official languages of Finland. There are also several official minority languages: <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland, accessed 22 May 2023.</ref><br>
* Three variants of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A1mi_languages '''Sami'''] <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland#Sami_languages, accessed 22 May 2023.</ref>
** '''Northern Sami'''
** '''Inari Sami'''
** '''Skolt Sami'''
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Kalo_language '''Romani or Finnish Kalo''']
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Sign_Language '''Finnish Sign Language''']
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelian_language '''Karelian''']<br>


When you are looking up names or words in Finnish dictionaries or indexes, it is important to know that the Finnish alphabet has three letters that follow the letter z: å, ä, and ö. The letter å does not occur in native Finnish words, but many personal and geographical names of Swedish origin use this letter.  
'''English''' is spoken by most Finns as a second language. Official statistics from 2012 show that at least 70% of Finnish people can speak English. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland#English, accessed 22 May 2023.</ref><br>


=== Language Aids  ===
'''Russian''' is the most spoken immigrant language in Finland but has no official minority language status. It served as the third co-official language with Finnish and Swedish for a very short period between 1900 and 1917. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland#Russian, accessed 22 May 2023.</ref><br>


The Family History Library has published the Finnish Genealogical Word List (35815) and the Swedish Genealogical Word List (31028) to help you in your research.  
Since Finnish was not an official language in Finland until 1863, most records were written in Swedish. To do research in these records, you will need to know some Swedish and Finnish key words and phrases. Also, be aware that Orthodox church records were written in Russian until after Finnish independence. The Finnish language is spoken by the majority of the population in Finland and by ethnic Finns elsewhere.<br>


The following language dictionaries can also help you in your research. You can find these and similar material at many research libraries:
== Word Lists ==
*[[Finnish Genealogical Word List|Finnish Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Swedish Genealogical Word List|Swedish Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Russian Genealogical Word List|Russian Genealogical Word List]]
*[[German Genealogical Word List|German Genealogical Word List]]


Alanne, V. S. Suomalais-englantilainen suursanakirja (Great Finnish-English Dictionary). 3rd ed. Porvoo: Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö, 1968. (FHL film 1224706 item 3)
'''Finnish'''
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_language#Basic_greetings_and_phrases Basic greetings and phrases (Wikipedia)]
*[https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/finnish.php Useful Finnish phrases (Omniglot)]
*[https://wikitravel.org/en/Finnish_phrasebook Finnish phrasebook (Wikitravel)]
* ''Finnish phrase book & dictionary.'' New York: Berlitz Publishing, 2018. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1002834290 WorldCat].
* Kataja, Ville. ''Finnish dictionary & phrasebook : Finnish-English, English-Finnish.'' New York: Hippocrene Books, 2002. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/51944382 WorldCat].


Björkman, C. G. Svensk-Engelsk Ordbok (Swedish- English Dictionary). Stockholm: P. A. Norstedt, 1889. (FHL film 1224734 item 1) Swedish spelling was reformed in 1906; therefore, this book includes words as they were spelled prior to 1906.  
'''Swedish'''
*[https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/swedish.php Useful Swedish phrases (Omniglot)]
*[https://wikitravel.org/en/Swedish_phrasebook Swedish phrasebook (Wikitravel)]
* ''Rough guides phrasebook Swedish.'' London: Rough Guides, 2019. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1111205500 WorldCat].


Ernolv, Carl. Svensk-Engelsk Ordbok (Swedish- English Dictionary). Stockholm: Svenska Bokförlaget Norstedts, 1947. (FHL film 1124531 item 12)  
'''Romani or Finnish Kalo'''
*[https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/romani.htm Useful phrases in Romani (Omniglot)]


To find other language aids in the Locality Search of the FamilySearch Catalog, look under:  
== Alphabet and Pronunciation ==
When you are looking up names or words in Finnish dictionaries or indexes, it is important to know that the Finnish alphabet consists of 29 letters which follow the letter z: ''å'', ''ä'', and ''ö''. The letter å does not occur in native Finnish words, but many personal and geographical names of Swedish origin use this letter. <br>
'''Finnish'''
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_phonology Finnish phonology (Wikipedia)]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_grammar Finnish grammar (Wikipedia)]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_orthography Finnish orthography (Wikipedia)]
*[https://www.omniglot.com/writing/finnish.htm Finnish Alphabet and Pronunciation (Omniglot)]
*[https://mylanguages.org/learn_finnish.php Finnish Grammar and Languages Basics (MyLanguages)]
*[https://uusikielemme.fi/finnish-grammar Finnish Grammar (Uusi kielemme)]


:FINLAND- LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES - DICTIONARIES
'''Swedish'''
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_phonology Swedish phonology (Wikipedia)]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_grammar Swedish grammar (Wikipedia)]
*[https://www.omniglot.com/writing/swedish.htm Swedish Alphabet and Pronunciation (Omniglot)]
*[https://mylanguages.org/learn_swedish.php Swedish Grammar and Languages Basics (MyLanguages)]


:SWEDEN- LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES - DICTIONARIES
'''Romani or Finnish Kalo'''
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Kalo_language#Phonology Finnish Kalo Phonology (Wikipedia)]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_alphabets#Finnish_Romani Finnish Kalo (Wikipedia)]
*[https://www.omniglot.com/writing/finnishkalo.htm Finnish Kalo Alphabet and Pronunciation (Omniglot)]
*[https://www.omniglot.com/writing/romani.htm Romani Alphabet and Pronunciation (Omniglot)]
=== Sounds ===
'''Vowels'''<br>
There are eight vowels in Finnish, a, e, i, o, u, y, ä, ö, and å which is found in Swedish words. Finnish has 16 diphthongs of two types. In the first type there is more stress on the first vowel, and in the second, slightly more stress on the second vowel.
*First group: au, ou, iu, eu, äy, öy. äi, öi, yi, ui, ei, ai, oi
*Second group: uo, yö, ie
A double vowel is twice as long as a single vowel. Double vowel combinations are: aa, ää, ee, ii, oo, öö, uu, and yy.<br>


You may also find language aids in the Subject Search under:
'''Consonants'''<br>
Double consonants are pronounced separately. The first is the final letter of one syllable and the second is the initial letter of the next syllable.<br>


:FINNISH LANGUAGE- DICTIONARIES - ENGLISH
'''Accent'''<br>
The stress always falls on the first syllable, even with words of foreign origin.
*Helsinki (HEL-sin-ki)
*Sibelius (SI-be-lius)
*Räikkönen (RÄIK-könen)
=== Grammar ===
'''Parts of Speech'''<br>
Unlike English, Finnish does not have indefinite or definite articles (a/an/the). Finnish uses the following parts of speech:
{{columns-list|4|
#Nouns
#Pronouns
#Adjectives
#Verbs
#Adverbs
#Preposiitons
#Conjunctions
#Interjections
}}
== Language Aids and Dictionaries ==
'''Finnish'''
*[https://glosbe.com/en/fi English to Finnish Dictionary (Glosbe)]
*[https://www.lexilogos.com/english/finnish_dictionary.htm Finnish dictionary (Lexilogos)]
* Arminen, K.V. ''English and Finnish dictionary.'' Hancock, Mich.: Finnish Lutheran Book, 1914. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/4429225 WorldCat].
*[https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/finnish/ Finnish (MustGo)]
*[https://kaino.kotus.fi/vks/ Dictionary of Old Finnish (Kaino.Kotus)]
*[http://en.bab.la/dictionary/english-finnish/ English-Finnish dictionary (Bab.la)]
*[[Finland Letter Writing Guide]]


:SWEDISH LANGUAGE- DICTIONARIES - ENGLISH
'''Swedish'''
*[https://glosbe.com/en/sv English to Swedish Dictionary (Glosbe)]
*[https://www.lexilogos.com/english/swedish_dictionary.htm Swedish dictionary (Lexilogos)]
* ''Swedish dictionary : English-Swedish, Swedish-English.'' London: Routledge, 1995. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/32924666 WorldCat].
*[https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/swedish/ Swedish (MustGo)]


[[Category:Finland Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Languages]]
'''Romani or Finnish Kalo'''
*[https://glosbe.com/en/rmf English to Kalo Finnish Romani Dictionary (Glosbe)]
 
==Additional Resources==
*[https://www.britannica.com/place/Finland Finland (Britannica)]
*[https://wikitravel.org/en/Finland Finland (Wikitravel)]<br>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Finland Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]

Latest revision as of 12:11, 20 March 2024


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Description[edit | edit source]

Finnish and Swedish are the two main official languages of Finland. There are also several official minority languages: [1]

English is spoken by most Finns as a second language. Official statistics from 2012 show that at least 70% of Finnish people can speak English. [3]

Russian is the most spoken immigrant language in Finland but has no official minority language status. It served as the third co-official language with Finnish and Swedish for a very short period between 1900 and 1917. [4]

Since Finnish was not an official language in Finland until 1863, most records were written in Swedish. To do research in these records, you will need to know some Swedish and Finnish key words and phrases. Also, be aware that Orthodox church records were written in Russian until after Finnish independence. The Finnish language is spoken by the majority of the population in Finland and by ethnic Finns elsewhere.

Word Lists[edit | edit source]

Finnish

Swedish

Romani or Finnish Kalo

Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

When you are looking up names or words in Finnish dictionaries or indexes, it is important to know that the Finnish alphabet consists of 29 letters which follow the letter z: å, ä, and ö. The letter å does not occur in native Finnish words, but many personal and geographical names of Swedish origin use this letter.
Finnish

Swedish

Romani or Finnish Kalo

Sounds[edit | edit source]

Vowels
There are eight vowels in Finnish, a, e, i, o, u, y, ä, ö, and å which is found in Swedish words. Finnish has 16 diphthongs of two types. In the first type there is more stress on the first vowel, and in the second, slightly more stress on the second vowel.

  • First group: au, ou, iu, eu, äy, öy. äi, öi, yi, ui, ei, ai, oi
  • Second group: uo, yö, ie

A double vowel is twice as long as a single vowel. Double vowel combinations are: aa, ää, ee, ii, oo, öö, uu, and yy.

Consonants
Double consonants are pronounced separately. The first is the final letter of one syllable and the second is the initial letter of the next syllable.

Accent
The stress always falls on the first syllable, even with words of foreign origin.

  • Helsinki (HEL-sin-ki)
  • Sibelius (SI-be-lius)
  • Räikkönen (RÄIK-könen)

Grammar[edit | edit source]

Parts of Speech
Unlike English, Finnish does not have indefinite or definite articles (a/an/the). Finnish uses the following parts of speech:

  1. Nouns
  2. Pronouns
  3. Adjectives
  4. Verbs
  5. Adverbs
  6. Preposiitons
  7. Conjunctions
  8. Interjections

Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Finnish

Swedish

Romani or Finnish Kalo

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland, accessed 22 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland#Sami_languages, accessed 22 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland#English, accessed 22 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Finland," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Finland#Russian, accessed 22 May 2023.
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