Living in two languages in Finland - BBC World Service

Finland and Sweden have a long history of close co-operation which is further strengthened by the two countries joining Nato together.
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Not having a language barrier helps co-operation in all areas: the Swedish and Finish languages are completely unrelated but parts of Finland are completely bilingual.
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[@Deadomen123]

Mandatory Swedish is not very popular in Finland and it's a relic from old times when we had larger Swedish population (now it's only about 5%). Most native Finns can/do speak two languages, but it's mainly Finnish and English.

[@toinenosoite3173]

True, but the biggest worry at the moment is actually that most Finnish speaking Finns can only speak Finnish and English at usually a fairly good level - nothing more. Earlier most had at least some Swedish and German (or French). Why have people become so lazy about learning languages? What is wrong with people?

[@Dewkeeper]

@@toinenosoite3173 people learn languages they actually use. Go to any multilingual place and you'll find concrete reasons why people learn the languages they do. Language proficiency for its own sake is a vain fantasy.

[@megamuumi7859]

@@toinenosoite3173 maybe everyone just doesnt wanna spend months/years mastering 3 additional languages when you can do just as well with one

[@toinenosoite3173]

@@megamuumi7859 Could well be, and good luck to all of them! PS. Don't underestimate the value of knowing languages.

[@toinenosoite3173]

@@Dewkeeper Maybe. Nevertheless, I do find language skills to be very close to mathematical skills, i.e. in both cases you master a totally or fairly logical system, which in itself is useful. This, of course, requires a lot of work. Thus, are people just lazy? And please don't say that language skills aren't worth a shit.

[@aatuhussa2652]

In my experience knowing Swedish as native a Finnish speaker comes in handy in the most unexpected of circumstances. On one occasion I found that the one "language" I had in common with a Russian was me speaking Swedish to her and her speaking Norwegian back to me. On another occasion I got myself stuck translating between a Finn and a Spaniard as we thought they didn't have any language in common - until we found that both could communicate quite handily in Swedish and my involvement was no longer needed.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Tvångsvenskan orsakar mest av det finska språkokunnighetet. Själv ville jag börja med franska under högstadiet, men var inte tillåten för att jag fick bara okej resultat i tvångengelskan och tvångsvenskan. Skolan sa att du är särkilt bra på de här obligatoriska tvångspråk, så vi kan inte tillåta dig att börja med ett tredje språk. Motivationen är väl nyckeln till allt lårandet. Vill man ej lära sig svenska, lär man sig ej. Men även de sämsta studeranden kan lära sig och bli bästa av klassen i ett ämne som man drömmer att lärä sig om. Det att jag lärde mig tiotals språk bra under mitt vuxet liv betyder att det vad helt fel att finska skolverket häjdade mig från att välja ett optionalt språk. Sådana här tvångspråken leder till förminskandet av språkkunnighet. Får man själv välja tar man svenska, tyska eller franska leder till motiverat studerande som i sin tur ökar antalet människor som kan svenska till en nivå man bara inte kommer att nå utan inre motivation. Om det börde finnas ett annat tvångspråk i Finland till efter engelskan, borde det väl vara ett samiskt språk. De där språken är väl mycket mer nationalspråkaktiga än svenska nånsin.

[@bakeraus]

It's a beautiful thing, i'm in a Finnish language class with people from all over the world. We are communicating in English most of the time outside of the class because it's our common language in the group. People are doing very well learning Finnish but it's a long road.

[@viggokalman5040]

Our history with Sweden both has its ups and downs. In our top university we learn that if it hadn't been for the Swedish language, the russification of Finland could've hit a whole lot harder. The Swedish speakers were often of noble descent and knew how to handle the Russian aristocracy, and when needed, people like Eugen Schauman or Mannerheim could step in and do their thing - both Swedish-speaking. I don't find it good to use the historical Swedish-speaking finns (who are among the most important for Finlands sovereignty) as some kind of angry argument which everyone should just understand. It is however the truth that Finland would not be Filnand without them. We might even be a post-soviet state or a very eastern European country.

[@Alexander-le5fx]

As a Ukrainian, I really appreciate your comment. Recently I have been asked why the Russian language isn't used in Finland as a second/third language and Swedish is used.

[@goldrush5764]

I'm a swede. Anyways, you have Mannerheim to thank for a lot of things. He wanted and succeeded to strengthen western values in Finland. In his famous speech to the swedish volunteers who fought in the winter war he says that Finland should value western culture. Here you have the speech: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHSUlmR4frOHiq8&ab_channel=F%C3%A4derneslandet

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Yes and the best way to honor their memory is to lure such people of talent to work for the future of Finland. That sort of knowledge doesn't come from tvångsvenskning. What do we do with the Albert Einsteins and Isaac Newtons of our fine land? We treat them even dumber than we treat murderers. Just for using cannabis for autism Finland will finish you off way worse than had you been convicted of merely murdering a fellow Finn. Forever an outcast versus outcast only for a set of years after which you can go on getting a driver's licence, family, your own company.

[@Feudorkannabro]

I'm not sure if Finland would have been "very Eastern European country". Germans would have probably came here (as they came to Estonia and Latvia) and brought Western Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism) and justice system.

[@kanssamatkustaja]

@@goldrush5764 He was a Tsarist mass murderer

[@Feudorkannabro]

I wish Finnish in Northern Sweden was well alive as Swedish is in Finland. It is sad that in Northern Sweden, Finnish speakers were forcibly assimilated during the time of nationalism from 1888 until 1960s. Multilingualism is great and I've learned many languages at school

[@jasminekaram880]

There are native Finnish speakers in northern Sweden. And there is Meänkieli that some define as either a sister language or distinct dialect of Finnish as well. In fact there are over 250 000 who speak Finnish as a native language in Sweden as a whole excluding Meänkieli So it is not extinct.

[@FairyCRat]

There's still a sizeable minority of Sweden Finns, although most are now near Stockholm, not in the north.

[@Feudorkannabro]

@@FairyCRat I'm talking about natives in the North. Not about the Finnish immigrant population

[@Feudorkannabro]

@@jasminekaram880 I'm talking about the natives in North Sweden (meänkieli). Not about the post-war Finnish immigrant population

[@angryfinnishfarmer]

@@jasminekaram880 distinct? Its basically 98% same as finnish. Easily understandable like any dialect in finnish. Cant really understand why swedes want to call it a language.

[@paulekstrom9499]

Ekenäs (Tammisaari in Finnish) is very beautiful town, especially in summer. My family roots are there, that's why such a special place for me. 😊👍

[@Princip777]

Me too

[@solitudecityguard845]

Ekenäs might be beautiful but it is like a cancer with its "ekenäs politik", Karis is the main provider, without a doubt, for Raseborg yet it gets a fraction of the tax money that it should recieve.

[@OCTOgandalf]

CBT

[@duzzzz94]

My family used to have a summer cottage there. I wish I could visit that place ones more.

[@tenacious_takakumi2680]

Every single time I see Ekenäs, I only think about my time in the army

[@siljasjodin]

My first language is Swedish. I'm born in Finland and live in Finland but prefer English instead of Finnish if there's an option when it comes to speak and read. Anyways, I understand Finnish 1000 times better than I can express myself in Finnish, writing is the most tricky part and I've never bothered to learn it though taking evening classes twice a week for some months would solve the problem. After all, the Finnish language is probably one of the most beautiful languages in the world. Respect 🙏🏼 🇫🇮

[@siljasjodin]

@@Jo-MM Moi Joona, veikkaan että on moni eri vaihtoehtoja riippuen missä Suomessa asut mutta en osa sanoa. 🙄 Täytyy ottaa selvää. Itte kävin koulun Ruotsissa

[@siljasjodin]

@@Jo-MM Juu, jos ei ole yhtään motivaatio opiskella ruotsinkieli niin ei ole helppoa jos ei edes voi harrastaa sitä - kun asuin 10 v Hesassa niin se oli suurin osa ruotsiksi tai englanniksi, hyvin harvoin tuli puhuttu suomeksi. Ny asun paikkakunnassa jossa ei voi pärjätä muilla kielillä kun suomen. Mutta naapurin kunnassa jossa käyn niin siellä dominoi ruotsinkieli joka paikassa. Voisin kysyä siellä kuinka suomi/ruotsi kielioppi pelaa koulussa

[@KolonE]

onha se kyl iha vammasta omasta mielestä pittää ruotti virallisena kielenä koko maasa ku tääläpäi kukaa puhu ruottia nii kukaa ei halua opiskella sitä ku kukaa ei puhu sitä

[@robinlindholm1525]

@@Jo-MM kaikki ruotsinkieliset opiskelevat Suomea koulussa vaikka kaikki eivät sitä kunnolla opi

[@robinlindholm1525]

@@Jo-MM joo mut kyl melkein kaikki suomenruotsalaiset osaa Suomee

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

How interesting that this video would come up in my feed. I was just in Finland recently and was surprised by just how many signs and train stops had Swedish names as well as Finnish ones. As a Dane, it even came with the added boon of the announcer's accent in Swedish being easier to understand than typical Swedish, which I cannot for the life of me explain.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

I would've added Finnish-Swedish has retained its medieval Swedish pronunciation before the vowel shift that happened in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian, but not in Icelandic nor in Swedish spoken in the isolation of the vastness of Finland.

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

@@aliceberethart Well, I wanted to say it was the pitch accent, but then again, I'm used to different Danish dialects doing the exact same thing, so I think I'll probably go with the fact that they tended to pronounce the syllables of each word very clearly, so the overall impression was that they didn't speak that fast. Also, they pronounced 'sj' as, what a shocker, an s followed by a j, rather than the weird h-like sound you get in most of Sweden. I always have to think twice about what word they just said because I don't know if the word started with an s or an h, lol.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Here's a funny clip of some of the many Swedish dialects spoken within Finland for those who understand a Nordic language kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoqsdIKJeZKHa6c

[@hurri7720]

I have met several Norwegians who have the same experience.

[@hurri7720]

@@LebowskiDudeful , there is no such isolation as you are babbling about in Finland, on the contrary Finns have always actively worked and traded with Sweden and Estonia (and Russia too). As the saying went - "det är min sa Finn om Stockholm")

[@Worldtraveler2003]

My paternal grandmothers family immigrated to the US from Finland but spoke Swedish and they came from Hanko in Finland .. I hope to visit one day … what a beautiful place.

[@thomasreilly6362]

A Finn, a Swede and a Norwegian walk into a pub and all start talking English to each other. Fact!

[@LebowskiDudeful]

True also if it was just a Swede and a Dane only. Finnish of course is not even closely intelligable.

[@bjoardar]

@@LebowskiDudeful As a Swede, I understand Finnish better than I understand Danish, and I don't understand Finnish at all. Lots of love to our beloved neighbors, Danskjävlarna

[@LebowskiDudeful]

@@bjoardar du menar väl Tanskasen perkeleet?

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Here's a funny clip of some of many Swedish dialects spoken within Finland for those who understand a Nordic language kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoqsdIKJeZKHa6c

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@LebowskiDudeful What makes You say that ? Do You think that They more of Finland - than Finns ?

[@mogret7451]

Vilket mysigt café 😍

[@struntFF]

Around 2007 here in Sweden, many of my classmates (and myself included). Wanted to learn Finnish. But instead we were "forced" to learn Spanish, German etc. Swedes and Finns share a lot of History together. Having been the same country for almost 700 years. I think that it's great that you can get the opportunity to learn another language. Especially when both our countries have such close ties. It's sad to see that so many Finns don't see it that way. I would rather see that we get the opportunity to learn the Nordic Languages instead of Spanish etc. For me Finland is our closest ally and friend. We should learn more from each other. Not less.

[@Mickelraven]

As a native Swedish speaking Finn, I have to disagree. Mandatory Swedish should not be a thing in Finnish schools, since most people don't wanna learn it, and only 5% of the Finnish population actually speaks it. I guess it's a culture thing, since Finnish people are quite the "mind your own business" type of people, and we don't socialize as much as other countries. So as a native Swedish speaker (someone who grew up in a Swedish speaking family, instead of having Swedish taught to me in school), teaching Swedish should be an option in schools, not mandatory.

[@struntFF]

@@Mickelraven I never said that anyone should be forced to learn Swedish or Finnish. Even though you're pretty much "forced" to learn basically every subject in School. So I dont't really see much difference in learning another language compared to learning let's say religion or music. Or any other subject really. Sure only 5% living in Finland speaks Swedish. But don't forget all the Finns in Sweden that also speaks Swedish. That number is quite big. As I said I'm not saying that you should force anyone to learn another language. But that's more or less what you do with Spanish, German and French here in Sweden. I rather see that you can study Finnish, Norwegian or Danish instead. My grandparents and my mom are Finns. Even though she pretty much only speaks Swedish. I feel like the more you understand about each other. The closer you get. And to understand the cultures better. Language plays a big part. As I said. We should learn more from each other. Not less.

[@nooanykanen5864]

@@struntFF The thing that at least for me stuck out in your comment was " It's sad to see that so many Finns don't see it that way. ". While the point in itself is a valid one. In the context of finns being forced to learn swedish in school it sounds like defending it. I agree that having close ties to Sweden is a good thing, but the way it's currently implimented by making it mandatory is only creating division. Seriously I'm currently in school and when the only interaction with swedish culture comes by force it makes you not want to have anything to do with it.

[@struntFF]

@@nooanykanen5864 you're being "forced" to learn basically everything in school though. Ofc it sucks when you don't have any interest in a particular subject. Then it's easy to feel like it's beeing pushed upon you. I thought that Spanish was boring as hell. Today I regret that I didn't really pay attention though. The difference as I see it is that Sweden and Finland have such a rich history together. I don't really think that so many people value it nowadays. Which to me is quite sad. But as I said before, no one should be forced to learn another language. But at the same time. Learning another language can be very useful. And that goes for both Finns and Swedes.

[@nooanykanen5864]

@@struntFF The problem is that I have literally never in my life met a swedish person and if I ever met one I could just speak english to them. I have wasted six years learning a language and I can't even communicate using it. Finland and Sweden are both full really good at speaking english so I doubt it would divide us. The problem I have with mandatory Swedish is that it's just wasted resources. In my class who have all studied swedish for six years I don't think even half could hold a conversation in Swedish. I myself think mandatory swedish has done a lot to divide us. When I think of Sweden I remember all the sleepless nights I've spent studying it. When I think of Swedish culture I remember all of the stress associated with learning about them in a language I didn't want to learn, but was forced to. If I would have to think of a reason why we have become more distant I'd think it has probably a lot to do with the hatred the Finnish education system has been building against it then it has to do with a language barrier as an overwhelming majority of both countries are English speaking

[@krishnar1182]

This is interesting and I realize that this is an unusual situation for most in European/Western countries. I also recognize that there are a few polyglot environments around Europe (e.g. Luxembourg). But from the perspective of India, much of Africa and many other places multi-lingualism and living as a linguistic minority is very common and not really newsworthy. In India it is not uncommon to have one language as your mother tongue, marry a speaker of another, live in an area where another language is spoken, and then work/study in English, and ultimately develop fluency in all of them. Similarly in Africa having one language as your mother tongue, another as the local lingua franca and then a European language for administration/education is very common.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

The unique thing about this is that Finland is the only country on Earth that makes learning a language compulsory saying we have a 3% minority, but because they colonised us, we have to still learn to serve them in their own language. You cannot graduate even as a plumber without passing Swedish. That is a shitty situation that even Canada with its compulsory French in Montreal doesn't even come close to.

[@rheijm9201]

A language being absolutely unlearnable, unteachable (any book in more than 1 language being fins) is not unique 1. and 2. in 40 years from now it won t exist. Arguably Netherlands won t either

[@edonveil9887]

And in India each of the languages could have a different writing system.

[@krishnar1182]

@@edonveil9887 Yes, very true. Although it’s fairly common for people who speak a language of another Indian state to not be able to read and write in it.

[@krishnar1182]

@@LebowskiDudeful Interesting perspective. On the one hand, in India, most of Sub-Saharan Africa and a few other places, knowing the language of a former colonizer is also essentially required on many levels. In some countries all education is done only in a European language and knowing that language is required for even menial administrative jobs. On the other hand usually for jobs like plumbers and such it’s not uncommon for people to not be truly fluent in the European language and maybe not even to have any formal education.

[@skoshman1]

I'm Canadian from the Far Western Outaouais (read: Ontario). Living with two languages in normal for me, even if I am only fluent in one.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Naturalment, mais je, I wanted to study French but they didn't let me start another language to avoid gepardizing my Swedish learning that the whole class hated so due to us identifying as the colonised Finnish people, almost finished by Swedish colonalisation.

[@graceperry2623]

Plus they speak English so well.

[@Vikinggirl1679]

this is very interesting. I am 57 years old and was born and live in the U.S. state of Minnesota. I was told by my father his parents were all Swedish and spoke Swedish but lived in Finland. I took a DNA test for fun. turns out I have almost no Swedish in me and am half Finnish! I learned my grandparents were born and raised in Kronoby Finland and apparently indeed Finnish not Swedish. the family goes back in Kronoby for hundreds of years. I still have many cousins there I discovered and also some In Sweden. you never know lol. I want to visit Kronoby and Finland. I would love to get dual citizenship. I think you can get citizenship by descent from grandparents there. would love to move there. studying the language now

[@jrautanen]

Swedish-speaking people have lived here since the Middle ages, and genetically they are quite identical to Finnish-speaking population in western Finland, so it's no surprise that DNA tests are showing your ethnicity as Finnish. The connection between the Ostrobothnian and Swedish coasts has always been very close and people have been moving across the sea in both directions. And lots of people also migrated to the U.S. or Canada in hopes of better living. But the Finnish citizenship is quite hard to get. You can't get it by descent, you actually need to live here for 8 years and also prove your language skills (i.e. take a test in either Finnish or Swedish). Swedish is obviously much easier to learn, being closer to English.

[@Vikinggirl1679]

@@jrautanen thank you

[@LS-oq3qh]

So the situation in Finland is quite identical to the situation in the Quebec region of Canada.

[@snekd4011]

Here's my take, not that anyone cares: Yes, it's nice to know more languages than one but it shouldn't be compulsory if it's not needed. Obviously English takes the priority here because it is the foremost international language and should be compulsory. Why did I have to take Swedish every year of upper secondary school and 5 courses in high shcool only to know a few words and never speak the language? What if instead of that wasted time, you did something actually productive? Learning Swedish as a Finnish person is like spending hours studying to be a mechanic only to change your tire, once, in your thirties.

[@kurtschneider5464]

If you would start learning it at a good age like 7-8 as Finn-Swedes do it would maybe not be so hard. + it would actually help you if you tried to have a better attitude for it and in the end your English would sound better if you learned Swedish properly since they are related languages.

[@JussiPeltola]

@@kurtschneider5464 Maybe spend the time just learning English instead of Swedish to "improve your English". Radical, isn't it?

[@Cronin_]

@@JussiPeltola Us Fenno-Swedes study Finnish and we study English, but we don't need more English as most people speak it very well, so why the need to improve it? We have actual reasons why we may struggle with Finnish (as it is one of the most difficult languages in the world), but Swedish isn't that difficult

[@snekd4011]

@@kurtschneider5464 It's not hard. I am dumb as bricks, but I'm actually quite good at languages (fluent in 3, can understand about 70 % of Swedish, Russian and German and make up some basic sentences) and I'm personally quite fond of Swedish. Nonetheless, in my experience most aren't like me in that regard. Point is Swedish is absolutely useless if you are not going to be dealing with swedes at work on in social life. Imagine spending hundreds of hours on a language you never need or will ever use.

[@JussiPeltola]

@@Cronin_ Languages are not harder than others, just different. Swedish is a distinct language and the argument "it makes English easier" is not true. English may be easier for native speakers of similar languages. Learning English as a Finnish speaker via another European language has maybe 10% efficiency or less. I am fine with people learning only their mother tongue (or even just whichever language the school chosen happens to teach other subjects in) and English. I have not had any issues communicating with people without using Swedish. Even though I can speak it, one sentence to improve some people's attitude and moving on to English or Finnish has worked fine. Learning a language that I never really need, and mostly forgetting it, was not worth the effort and neither is mandatory Finnish, if you want and need it you will learn it.

[@margret632]

We've got 11 official languages, with it being mandatory to learn at least one additional language besides your home language. I used to hate my second language but learned to embrace it as I got older.

[@GoldenPhoenix101]

I'm guessing you're South African? They have a crazy number of languages there!

[@holoholopainen1627]

You need just one Language - but 11 - why IS That ? Does Everybody understand - each other ? Are People Free to move - and keep Their Language ?

[@scepticsquirrel]

@@holoholopainen1627 English is the nationwide lingua franca, also in Cape Afrikaans is a lingua franca too.

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@scepticsquirrel So You are an English speaker ? In Europe - Every Nation has Their own languge !

[@scepticsquirrel]

@@holoholopainen1627 No, I am from Turkey and Turkish is my first language as I am Turkish. South Africa is a special country, and I have relatives lived there.

[@Vixctor13]

I'm from Åland (south west Finland) and we all speak Swedish here. Culturally I feel more Finnish than Swedish. Finnish speaking Finns don't seem to like us very much, however.

[@ratyjoona]

I have heard that it's kinda forbidden to speak Finnish there. Or apparently even hold a restaurant that has Finnish radio channels playing there. So, may feel discriminatory. And then, the forced learning of Swedish at schools. It's projected partly towards Swedish speaking Finns. Like I have lived most of my life in a town where there would have been 5 or so more useful languages to learn as 3rd language, compared to Swedish.

[@ratyjoona]

Also according to google, some Finns apparently still get called finnjävel while there

[@finnicpatriot6399]

Mostly because of the discriminatory culture and rules against Finnish speakers in Åland.

[@bakeraus]

@@ratyjoona Have you been for yourself? So many rumors in Finland. Stop believing the local drunks and their stories.

[@ratyjoona]

@@bakeraus Where'd I see local drunks when I have only visited bar once in my current city and ordered non alcoholic drinks?

[@ZadenZane]

I wish I could speak Finnish. To me it sounds like a space alien language with a Swedish accent. I did a few Pimsleur Finnish lessons one rainy Sunday afternoon but I'm already learning Japanese and Welsh so Finnish on top is too many languages. What little Finnish I learned reminded me of Japanese though. You put all the little words after nouns and not before. Also I don't know if Finnish is the same but Japanese doesn't seem to have words meaning who or that so if you wanted to say people who live in Japan speak Japanese you'd say something like 日本に住んでいる人は日本語を話している。Japan-in living-be person-wa Japanese-wo speaking-be. Probably my grammar's all wrong but the Finnish I remember was more like that with postpositions and suffixes rather than prepositions and random little words floating around as in English 🤪‼️

[@Tingletonttu]

Who = kuka that = se, sitä I have a similar feeling that in Finnish and Japanese the smallest piece of semantic information is more often a syllable rather than the word as a whole.

[@silverlake631bee4]

I’m an exchange student in Ekenäs! It is really cool to learn Swedish here, and in the Swedish (as they said in the video) typically has some Finnish words thrown in as well. My friends here all know a sizable about of Finnish from school, or home, in order to get around more. Tack för videon! Kiitos!

[@Feudorkannabro]

Nice to hear! Btw, where are you from?

[@silverlake631bee4]

@@Feudorkannabro the US

[@GoldGalaxianFin]

my main is finnish. my secondary is english. i rarely ever use swedish and i live in vaasa.

[@Cronin_]

my main is Swedish. my secondary is english. i rarely ever use finnish and i live in vasa. 😉

[@romaboo6218]

@@Cronin_ go to sweden

[@Cronin_]

@@romaboo6218 Why? I've lived here in Vasa all my life (now 18 years), and I haven't had any problem because I don't speak Finnish very well. There are a lot of Swedish speaking schools here, so I can study here as far as University level education in Swedish

[@herrakaarme]

@@Cronin_ Ironically enough, considering RomaBoo's comment, if your future studies/career presented an attractive opportunity to move to Sweden for a while, which is not that uncommon, it would be relatively easy for you. Finnish speaking Finns don't really have such a bonus. Estonia has less opportunities, being a small country, plus the language is much further removed from Finnish than Finland Swedish from Swedish.

[@Cronin_]

@@herrakaarme Yeah that is true. It's nice to have a "plan B" in case I don't find work here, or if I want to study something that doesn't exist in Swedish in Finland. It would also feel nice to understand everyone, and to have everyone understand me when speaking my native language.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Learning Swedish is a very positive thing, but forcing people to learn it turns against the language's own interests. It actually causes the level of Swedish decline. Much like Finns often speak way better Spanish after a one week course than Americans who have been forced to take compulsory Spanish classes for years on end. Same seems to go for Swedish in Finland as even the level of Swedish is so poor amongst its major graduates.

[@tamarahill9246]

You do not know how long it took us to realize that Åbo is Turku just in Swedish 😂

[@holoholopainen1627]

One Year ? Do You speak Swedish - Å IS a River and Bo IS a settlement ! People by The River ! Borgå - has that Å - aswell - Town by a River !

[@Jahvec]

@@holoholopainen1627 To be fair, I can think of number of Finnish cities situated next to a river...

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@Jahvec Could You mention a few ?

[@Jahvec]

@@holoholopainen1627 as you said, Turku, Pori, Kokemäki, Hämeenlinna, Harjavalta, Huittinen... I also do not exactly care to mention every city next to Kokemäenjoki. Someone will undoubtly be more familiar than me in other areas. Point being "Town by a River" isn't really a good landmark in a country of thousand lakes.

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@Jahvec Nice ! But there is Nobody - WHO spoke / speaks Swedish ! That is The Difference !

[@MietoK]

Yeah, I had to learn Swedish . Took something like 6 years. Never used it and I have totally forgotten the language. No wonder as only in southern Finland you hear Swedish

[@DanihelMetalPromotion]

What the guy says holds true, everyone in the entire world should speak more languages. It should be encouraged from a young age, as a natural thing. That way it wouldnt become uncommon when most people speak up to 5 languages on a basic level. I only speak Dutch and English fluently, and some basic German. I wish I wouldve had proper language training from kindergarten onwards in like 4 languages or least. Much easier to learn as a kid than later for most people. I already had issues learning languages in high school because 1. the emphasis was on grammar instead of practical use 2. no IRL experiences aka speaking with natives 3. teachers were often boring (not all of course). Its been a while since I was in high school so maybe a lot has changed but just text books didnt cut it for me. I was often bored outta my mind.

[@Alexandros.Mograine]

lets just be clear WHERE the swedish is spoken, pretty much only on the coast along sweden and åland, and even still in the grand scale its not alot of people. most people can only say like jag heter or something simple like that. you dont even need swedish, most times swedes and finns just speak english because with that almost always our language skills are closer to each others.

[@mbrown4778]

Thanks for sharing this insight. As an American, I'm always hearing about how Europeans speak multiple languages, but the fact remains that in general, people learn languages for geographic or economic practicality. Most people aren't learning a language unless it has a direct benefit to their life.

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

bilingualism is very normal in my country too. in regional provinces, there is even trilingualism and quadrilingualism. in my family, we speak 3 languages.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

I've lived in two major cities in Finland and have never met a Swede nor a Finnish Swede. And when we get to study a second foreign language after English during the 7-9 grades regular students don't get to start a new language despite how enthusiastic they are about starting French or German. They will be told that since your English language score is just avarage and since we are starting mandatory Swedish you don't get to jeopardize your Swedish learning with another new language. I really would've needed those languages much more.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Tvångsvenskan orsakar mest av det finska språkokunnighetet. Själv ville jag börja med franska under högstadiet, men var inte tillåten för att jag fick bara okej resultat i tvångengelskan och tvångsvenskan. Skolan sa att du är särkilt bra på de här obligatoriska tvångspråk, så vi kan inte tillåta dig att börja med ett tredje språk. Motivationen är väl nyckeln till allt lårandet. Vill man ej lära sig svenska, lär man sig ej. Men även de sämsta studeranden kan lära sig och bli bästa av klassen i ett ämne som man drömmer att lärä sig om. Det att jag lärde mig tiotals språk bra under mitt vuxet liv betyder att det vad helt fel att finska skolverket häjdade mig från att välja ett optionalt språk. Sådana här tvångspråken leder till förminskandet av språkkunnighet. Får man själv välja tar man svenska, tyska eller franska leder till motiverat studerande som i sin tur ökar antalet människor som kan svenska till en nivå man bara inte kommer att nå utan inre motivation. Om det börde finnas ett annat tvångspråk i Finland till efter engelskan, borde det väl vara ett samiskt språk. De där språken är väl mycket mer nationalspråkaktiga än svenska nånsin.

[@Matias-dr3ys]

I studied russian in middle school though. Could have picked french or german too.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

@@Matias-dr3ys at the age of eleven they talk with a kid's parents and everybody gets to start a new language if parents okay it. But at that age I believed my parents and didn't have the stubborness to keep on demanding let me start a new language. At thirteen it was time to pick a new optional language and this time I was more stubborn, I was dying to learn Russian and French. But I was not allowed by the teachers as my Swedish and English score was only 8. So I went to the principal's office to ask if she could still let me choose at least one language, but the answer was still a resounding no, the explanation being it will jeopardize your Swedish learning. Had there been no Swedish forced down every single throat, I would have gotten to start studying the languages I have spent my entire adult life studying. What a waste with the obligatory Swedish.

[@holoholopainen1627]

You didn't live at Turku or Helsinki / Espoo ?

[@LebowskiDudeful]

@@holoholopainen1627 In those places you certainly cannot help but to stumble upon a Swedish speaker - especially in Grankulla. No, I wasn't talking of those cities.

[@Pyovali]

I have to travel 700 km to a region where Swedish is useful. Why should I learn it then?

[@KnightDarkness-bv1ei]

I speak Finnish but I got taught English instead of Swedish in school because my parents believed that English was more well known plus it is handier to use with my university education. I tend to use English when I am on social media and KZbin but I use Finnish when I am talking to people face to face.

[@RoyalMela]

Only 5% of Finns speak swedish as their first language, and it is spoken in very limited area as well. Almost all swedish speakers are just as good in finnish as a native finnish speaker. Still everyone must study swedish in school for several years, despite never having to use it or hearing swedish where they live. Mandatory swedish just creates a "hate" relations to that language and I know for sure that making the studies volunteery would increase the popularity of the language. Almost all bi-lingual municipalities do not grow as fast as single language ones. So having the language as a mandatory school subject is not a good thing, just the opposite.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Tvångsvenskan orsakar mest av det finska språkokunnighetet. Själv ville jag börja med franska under högstadiet, men var inte tillåten för att jag fick bara okej resultat i tvångengelskan och tvångsvenskan. Skolan sa att du är särkilt bra på de här obligatoriska tvångspråk, så vi kan inte tillåta dig att börja med ett tredje språk. Motivationen är väl nyckeln till allt lårandet. Vill man ej lära sig svenska, lär man sig ej. Men även de sämsta studeranden kan lära sig och bli bästa av klassen i ett ämne som man drömmer att lärä sig om. Det att jag lärde mig tiotals språk bra under mitt vuxet liv betyder att det vad helt fel att finska skolverket häjdade mig från att välja ett optionalt språk. Sådana här tvångspråken leder till förminskandet av språkkunnighet. Får man själv välja tar man svenska, tyska eller franska leder till motiverat studerande som i sin tur ökar antalet människor som kan svenska till en nivå man bara inte kommer att nå utan inre motivation. Om det börde finnas ett annat tvångspråk i Finland till efter engelskan, borde det väl vara ett samiskt språk. De där språken är väl mycket mer nationalspråkaktiga än svenska nånsin.

[@ratyjoona]

AGREE! As a person from Eastern Finland, I don't like the fact that I am forced to study Swedish. That has possibly made me to think more negatively of not only Swedish language but Sweden and Swedish people. It might also maintain the divide between Swedish speaking Finns and us.

[@robinviden9148]

Perhaps no subjects in school should be mandatory? 🤔

[@darius684]

In my country we have to learn French idk why the French haven't had power here for centuries its kinda banter to h8 france but i hated the lesson as my mother tongue is japanese so i felt 2 languages are enough now i want to learn Swedish for multiple reasons

[@martinfrostnas6610]

"Almost all swedish speakers are just as good in finnish as a native finnish speaker" That's true in Helsinki, Turku etc. but far less so in entirely Swedish-dominated area like parts of rural Ostrobothnia. Many there speak limited Finnish. Not to mention Åland.

[@Chris-mf1rm]

As an English speaker, the first time in Finland I found signs in Swedish to be helpful. It was much easier to understand than Finnish. This was before such widespread use of English on signs. Finnish speaking Finns have told me that once they have learned Swedish it is much easier to learn other languages like German and English. So it seems having the two official languages is a good asset for Finns.

[@ratyjoona]

Well, no. And we learn English before we learn Swedish. And is many parts of the country, Swedish is basically a useless language.

[@Chris-mf1rm]

@@ratyjoona Maybe it’s an age thing because all the Finnish speaking Finns I know learnt Swedish first .

[@jeanyevenes]

Did you notice when he switched from Swedish to Finnish? He sounded like speaking English all the time

[@helene4397]

I am able to switch from Finnish into English and then into Swedish without any problems.

[@time2livelife]

3 languages if you count that they all seem to speak English, at least in this video

[@holoholopainen1627]

Pretty much - Everybody speaks atleast 3 - that are tought at School !

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Only Finnish and English. Swedish is so hated and hardly learned due to our history of almost being finished in the grips of Swedish colonalisation.

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@LebowskiDudeful In Sweden almost Everybody - speaks Swedish ! You should travel to Stockholm - on a ferry - to know - How Much They LOVE FINNS !

[@LebowskiDudeful]

@@holoholopainen1627 Yes, just like the English love Hong Kongers, they are useful and understand the coloniser's quirky white ways and ghastly tongue.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

But in all seriousness, the Finnish would have a way better national sentiment towards the Swedish, if only Swedish was not forced upon us. Having to study one language takes it all away from studying an optional language one is motivated to learn and is more likely a more widely spoken language than Swedish. Frankly, how about some French?

[@blayasblay3941]

As a Finn, I do not see a need for another stockholm syndrome.

[@romaboo6218]

Ong

[@terrificlion2328]

You prefer anglo-saxon linguistic imperialism to Swedish.

[@blayasblay3941]

@@terrificlion2328 Yes.

[@holoholopainen1627]

You misused The Stockholm syndrome ! Do You know from it comes from ? IT has its Roots at 80s ! - at Bank Heist !

[@Jo-MM]

@@terrificlion2328 English is the universal language. It's more useful than swedish.

[@Illogical.]

Would it be insider trading to speak swedish there if you're a sign maker?

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Som en finsk människä hatar jag tvångsvenska men älskar finlandsvensk litteratur

[@Cronin_]

Som Finlandssvensk tycker jag att endast de inom tvåspråkiga kommuner borde vara tvungna att lära sig svenska. Minimum vore att endast de som vill jobba inom offentliga sektorn, kommunala eller statliga jobb borde kunna svenska. Då skulle de flesta Finnar inte vara tvungna att lära sig det, men vi Finlandssvenskar skulle ändå kunna få service på svenska inom de områden där vi bor. Då skulle kanske också "the public opinion" om oss bli bättre. Mindre hat och diskriminering. En win-win liksom.

[@thomasl2974]

Very nice video showing the bilingual parts of Finland. It is ofcourse not unigue in the world that people who speaks different languages or have different religion can live side by side in a civilized manner. Unfortunately it is more often the other way around. I son’t have a language head but speaks Swedish, Finnish, English, and some German. I am not an active user of German and that is something I blame myself for. I take all oppurtunities to watch German movies to keep up some of the skills. Norweigian is quite easy to understand (except the one`s from Vestlandet😊. Norweigian spoken in the Northern parts have quite much in common with some Swedish dialects spoken in Finland. There are also more commonalities with Swedish spoken in Finland and Danish compared to Stockholm Swedish. Danes however speak fast and with totally different pronunciation, which makes it harder to follow. I still love the Danes as well and sorry all Icelandic speakers, not there yet.

[@sampohonkala4195]

People's attitudes towards Swedish are still from the 1920's when it was important for the young nation to promote everything Finnish and get rid of anything that might not be exactly that. It is true Swedish is also a small language, but Sweden being the neighbor and among the top trading partners in both imports and exports, plus the domestic Swedish speakers, Swedish is by far the most useful language for a Finn after English. It is way more likely Swedish would help you in your work and career than French, German, Spanish or Japanese. That is why it is quite natural it is mandatory at school. When I went to school it was quite common to start yet another language, usually German or French, and that is not too much. I am in favor of English and Swedish as mandatory from early on, and an optional third should also be mandatory for at least a few years.

[@utriaininja]

Exactly like this. I think it's a bit funny with the deeply rooted "anti-swedish" thing. In other countries when you learn a language for several years in school you are still able to speak some, but in Finland there are so many people who have studied swedish for years and still do not know how to even hold a basic conversation. Off course it's not useful if you have decided from the start to never really try.

[@sampohonkala4195]

@@utriaininja To be honest I cannot keep up even a simple conversation in Swedish, even though I got the top grade 'L' in matriculation examination. The education did not really push towards practical use of the language. I read quite fluently, though and could probably write e-mails with a lot of mistakes, given enough time. We need more Strömsö and Solsidan and other popular attractions to make people more interested in the Swedish language. Education might already be better than back then when I went to school.

[@carisballing]

@@utriaininja That's interesting. Good that you've given it a try at least.

[@Siemenkarju22]

Ajatuksesi siitä, että suomalaiset tehdessään ruotsalaisten kanssa yhteistyötä alkaisivat kommunikoimaan jotenkin sujuvasti ja hedelmällisesti ruotsinkielellä koska sitä pakotettiin koulussa, on naiivi eikä perustu oikeaan elämään. Pakkoruotsin oppimäärällä suomalaisen ruotsinkielentaitoa ei ikinä saada sille tasolle, että suomalainen pystyisi jotenkin hyödyntämään sitä ruotsalaisten kanssa mahdollisissa kohtaamisissa työelämässä. Kaikissa tällaisissa tapauksissa molemmat osapuolet vaihtavat yksinkertaisesti englantiin. Ei siellä aleta leikkimään, että kun meillä on Suomessa tämä ruotsinkielen opetus niin sönkkään sinulle nyt väkisin huonoa ruotsia, vaan mennään helpoimman kautta ja siirrytään samantien englantiin. Vaikka oletettaisiin, että työelämässä suomalaiset hyötyisivät pakkoruotsista selkeästi tehdessään yhteistyötä ruotsalaisten kanssa, on tämä ihmismäärä silti niin marginaalisen pieni, että sillä ei voidan mitenkään perustella koko Suomen ja jokaisen suomalaisen kattavaa pakkoruotsin opiskelua.

[@sampohonkala4195]

@@Siemenkarju22 En ole sellaista väittänyt. Mutta ne jotka huomaavat armeijassa, että kauppikseen on vaikea päästä, mutta Vaasaan vois pisteet riittää, hyötyvät siitä, että toinen kotimainen oli pakollinen. Näin kävi tupakaverilleni, josta tuli lopulta suomalaisen suuryrityksen pääjohtaja. Aivan samalla tavalla on tuttuja opiskelijaiässä tajunnut että voiskin pyrkiä Uppsalaan kun Helsinki ei onnistunut. Jos sinulla ei tällaisia tapauksia ole tiedossa, luulen että olen elänyt pidempään ja nähnyt elämää.

[@Onionbaron]

Min pappa: "pis å ga ligg nå pojka äint nå gröit koka i kvel na!"

[@beorlingo]

Närpes?

[@LebowskiDudeful]

og jeg som nästan svensktalande urfinne tycker att finnar kommer att lära sig bättre svenska om språket vore helt optionalt. Jag antar att de svenskspråkiga som behöver vård på svenska vill inte ta det emot av någon som har studerat tvångsvenska utan att förstå ett ord man säger. Vi behöver nog två obligatoriska språk, men valet skall vara fritt, för i mitt fall låt dem mig inte att studera franska under hela högstadiet bara för att "du har inte studerat något språk förutom engelska, så du får inte riskera att lära sig svenska nu när vi börjar med det att börja med franska till". Det vore nyttigare nu nog.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Knowing languages is truly fantastic, but Swedish, now therein lies a gigantic problem. Where I'm coming from I had to study seven years of compulsory Swedish and because of that during the ages of 12-15 I was not allowed to start any languages. My main interest in school has always been foreign languages and not being able to start a language was really wrong, as I so wanted to start French and Russian at twelve. They told me you have applied for French, but since you only have studied English before and now that we are starting Swedish, we are not going to let you start even a single optional language in our school as we fear then you will only focus on the language you want to learn and forget all about learning Swedish. In the next school, high school, I didn't even dare to start a language as I had never studied many languages before. Now as an adult I would benefit greatly having been allowed to take French.

[@ratyjoona]

Russian language is spoken by others than Putin too. It's not about 1 person only. Otherwise everyone could find a reason to hate almost all languages in existence!

[@hendrikstrauss3717]

You had me until the last sentence, ngl.

[@Spootiful]

Not to rain on your parade but we have far more richness and diversity than yout hink. In terms of native languages we have at least Western Finnish, Eastern Finnish, Karelian, Northern Sami, Inari Sami, Skolt Sami, Ostrobothnian, Aboland-Nylandian (should be some of it left but I lack the necessary data), Alandian (not sure how much of it is left and might have largely merged with Finland Swedish), and Finland Swedish, and on top of that we have regional dialects within each language or language family. Standard Finnish and Finland Swedish are our two national languages but that is far from an accurate picture of the beauty we have in our country. Most people I would like to believe are very proud of their language and I don't think I'm the only one who wants to preserve that richness for future generations!

[@jessiegoodman9380]

Multilingualism is a sign of an open, free, highly developed nation.

[@puskamuha9000]

its not freedom if most finns dont want to learn swedish but in the schools its always mandatory. In åland, finland's island that is majority swedish speaking, they don't even have to learn finnish in schools.

[@yrneh1974]

@@puskamuha9000 i was forced to read finnish in school. So shut upnand read your swedish

[@jopeteus]

Like India?

[@solitudecityguard845]

@@puskamuha9000 Probably beacuse åland is an island with extra rights guaranteed by France, Great Britain and more. Do not confuse Åland with the Swedish speaking finns around Finland.

[@Cronin_]

@@puskamuha9000 Åland only having Swedish as official language is because Finland included that in the "offer" when trying to convince the League of Nations that Åland should belong to Finland instead of Sweden (in 1918)

[@mizulightblue]

I live in Finland and cities or towns like this are rare. I live in Tampere, no one speaks Swedish here. People even prefer rather English over Swedish

[@holoholopainen1627]

You Can judge the dog by its hair ? You Are talking about Your Friends - Not General Public ?

[@holoholopainen1627]

You cant judge dog by its hair ! You Are talking about Your Friends - Not The General Public ?

[@mizulightblue]

@@holoholopainen1627 I do not really have friends here, but I do often go out with my children and everywhere I go and talk with other people outside, they do speak mostly english, but not swedish. What I have noticed so far, Finnish is obviously nr1 spoken language, then English, then German and then maybe Swedish

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@mizulightblue So what is with Swedish ? Talar Du Finska als - Eller är Du engelska talande ? Miten on suomen kanssa ?

[@mizulightblue]

@@holoholopainen1627 I speak english and german, little bit of japanese and finnish, if that was your question

[@Dyreckt1]

And then you know... Everyone speaks English.

[@hurri7720]

Joining NATO is more like making something official which has been there unofficially for a long time.

[@Albanach-je1nk]

I am now old and far to my regret far from home. When I was growing up if I dared use my grandmother's toung at school I told in no uncertain terms to stop. Well in the 18 century some from the upper crust in the poshest part of the "home counties " decided that the English spoken my themselves was the pnly one the entire world should use to comucate. So they tried to get rid off regional dialect's in England and in an attempted to assimilate the "Celtic fring" Band Welsh, Irish,Manx Cornish,the Gaelic,and lowland Scots. Even now Scots is regard as bad English and i agree mainly because it's not English I am trying to to learn the Gaelic and note this is gaining some support in Scotland. However the lowland Leed is still frowned on. It's brilliant to the tolerance in Finland. My wife is the phillipins and they speak God knows many languages with Tagalog being the main one What is the problem with English upper class? Why do they think they been put on earth to dominate. Soar Alba

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Unfortunately Swedish has taken the place of that only correct language you spoke of. Swedish is the language of the colonalisation of Finland and the fact that people are forced to learn it 'n' that just grinds my gears ever so. I mean they told me I'm not allowed to take any optional languages, I have to study Swedish with all my might. Fecketh the colonisers sideways sayeth I & I. One love.

[@MRiitta]

The Swiss have 4 official languages:)

[@HairyButWhole]

Yea go to any "normal" city or town in Finland and most likely you will not be able to navigate daily life with only Swedish. It should not be mandatory, waste of time and resources, just focus language studies on English since that will benefit most of the people rather that Swedish that probably max 10% of population even uses outside school.

[@mixlllllll]

What's a normal city or town?

[@ketjuariittaa]

Jette kiva 😀 ja sekin väärin kirjoitettu.

[@Skege1000]

Jätte kiva juttu det

[@AlekséjAntipov]

English is a national language. Esperanto is an international language. La angla estas nacia lingvo. Esperanto estas internacia lingvo.

[@TheDerperado]

Mandatory swedish is highly unpopular among the Finnish population, but politicians refuse to end it. The Swedish National Party is almost always in the government, because they are willing to join forces with any other party, as long as mandatory Swedish is upheld. The sole purpose of the party is to force Swedish down the throats of Finns. Only 5% of the population of Finland speaks Swedish as their mothers tongue. And out of those 5% almost all speak understandable Finnish or English anyway. Basically all trade with Sweden is done in English. Our public education system is in chrisis due to lack of resources, but instead of focusing on important subjects, mandatory Swedish is forced on all students. And despite many years of mandatory learning, only small percentage of Finns actually learn the language. Every single Finn applying for public offices have to pass Swedish language test, even though the amount of Swedish speakers in that area would be 0. Almost all bilingual cities in Finland are located along the west coast, leaving rest of the Finland without any interaction with Swedish language. Mandatory Swedish is not about diversity or embracing other cultures, it is just tiny (the wealthiest and most powerful) fraction of Finnish population forcing their own culture on others while suppressing others.

[@vigetore9219]

"Basically all trade with Sweden is done in English." "...only small percentage of Finns actually learn the language. " And there you have the reason why. If Finns would be able to speak Swedish what language do you think would be spoken?

[@timoterava7108]

@@vigetore9219 The language both parties are most fluent with - English.

[@robinviden9148]

I’m not familiar with the Swedish National Party. Do you mean the Swedish People’s Party?

[@Lindasaur.]

I feel you. I'm a swedish-speaking finn, but I also don't get why we have to learn mandatory Finnish. Like okay I guess it can help and it is the majority language, but since that is the case you kinda get exposed to it all the time, especially if some people in your family speak it as mothertongue (my mom is native Finnish so I learned from her side of the family). Furthermore, you learn such obvious things or such pointless, old-timey words on some lessons, which make them very frustrating sometimes. And since they're mandatory, we have to put up with it. Like why do I have to learn super-proper grammar when a Finnish speaker can understand my kinda broken grammar with the same intent just fine?

[@nicholasjones7312]

What is unusual about this? Come to Wales and you’ll see bilingual signage everywhere! Surely, this is normal and monolingualism is unusual.

[@turnip5359]

Now ask the average walian if he or she can speak conversational Welsh (hint, they can't)

[@Feudorkannabro]

I'm from Finland but I enjoyed all Swedish lessions at school. Jag gillar det svenska språket

[@saijapalmutie9893]

Ok- done❤

[@karihamalainen9622]

You should also remember race-ideology based on :" Swedish: Statens institut för rasbiologi, SIFR) was a Swedish governmental research institute founded in 1922 with the stated purpose of studying eugenics and human genetics." Name has now changed but not its purpose. Univercity cleary states and shows how we finnish, known as ugri:s , are lower race. They still have skulcollection from finnish dead persons. You should newer forget your history. You should also search Axel Olof Freudenthal whose thesis are very same. You might also find some connection with Germany and also iron ore and Schweinfurt. We finns do not stated any such kind of ideology.

[@lmao2351]

Your history is swedish history, and russian. Its 2022 my guy. Sweden is conciderd the msot equal country in the world, then there are people like you trying to divide us.

[@karihamalainen9622]

@@lmao2351 Sweden is near civilwar sorry to say. And you should read forest-finns in Sweden. What you know about meän-kieli? I understand your fine ideology as cosmopolitian, but here we have Kreml era and possible nuclear war. Leftists are used by Kreml. And China. Look your phone - more than 80 % is made by China.

[@lmao2351]

@@karihamalainen9622 you clearly know nothing about sweden at all if you honestly think were about to have a civil war.

[@karihamalainen9622]

@@lmao2351 Utsätta områdens - you are not telling truth even yourself.

[@lmao2351]

@@karihamalainen9622 our crime has gone up. Were not close to a civil war. How delusonal are you? I even live in one of there "utsatta områden)

[@sauravyadav2043]

Is Finland is English speaking country

[@trash4evr]

yet we are afraid of speaking swedish in most places

[@mayankkansal8393]

I speak English, Hindi and Haryanvi at the same time, so when is BBC coming to take interview?

[@hurri7720]

Small countries will always need more than one language to get on in the world. The English are in a way the only European country who feel they don't need any second language at all. (All European countries are small, also Britain).

[@bakeraus]

They actually used to learn French but then government changed the rules on it. They are just lucky that the common language the world has chosen is English.

[@martinfrostnas6610]

@@bakeraus I think they still have to learn either French, German or Spanish, but the teaching and level achieved is obviously useless.

[@hurri7720]

Back in time educated people in Finland spoke at least appart from Finnish and Swedish also German and French and some also say English and Russian. Mannerheim for instance spoke all six languages. One of my aunts spoke appart from Swedish and Finnish also German, French, English and Italian (Italian just out of interest).

[@ManunKanava]

I hated having to learn Swedish as a mandatory language. Still can't understand anything some might try to say, if there is a situation that cannot understand, we just go to English, most are better at English.

[@holoholopainen1627]

You learn Swedish in One Year ! Just like English - Little by Little !

[@pyrylehtonen-caponigro3198]

@@holoholopainen1627 People learn languages when it clearly has an impact on them and they actually continue to use the language in the future.

[@holoholopainen1627]

@@pyrylehtonen-caponigro3198 Yes ! I takes one year - If You know How to learn a language ! Which Other Language IS - this easy ? Man lär sig - on man vill ! Alla ( som bor I Sverige ) - talar flytande - efter ett år !

[@pyrylehtonen-caponigro3198]

@@holoholopainen1627 doesn't matter that it's easy to learn, you forget languages if you don't use them later on

[@ericktom]

Gilla Det Här För Att Preservera Finlands Svenskhet Språkhet 🇸🇪❤️🇫🇮 TVÅSPRÅK KÄRLEK

[@northstar2621]

Notice how you only have one like

[@mixlllllll]

​​​@@northstar2621So? Who cares about likes?

[@northstar2621]

@@mixlllllll People who practise self-reflection. Other questions?

[@mixlllllll]

@@northstar2621 More like people who are insecure lol

[@northstar2621]

@@mixlllllll No. People who are AWARE my child

[@bremexperience]

What if the majority language became english?

[@pahis1248]

Living in Turku / Åbo

[@Skege1000]

I'm so sorry for you

[@beorlingo]

What is the Finnish word for the country of Turkey?

[@Skege1000]

@@beorlingo Turkki

[@beorlingo]

@@Skege1000 thank you!

[@fantasip]

Finland and Sweden was one country for nearly 700 years, the era until 1809 when the entire population was Swedes, i.e. Swedish nationality and Swedish citizens 🇫🇮✌🇸🇪

[@LebowskiDudeful]

I have been advocating mandatory Danish instead of Swedish some years back just in order to get rid of that stigma that has come to follow mandatory Swedish. Mandatory takes all the interest out of an otherwise cool subject and often that lack of interest to learn mandatory Swedish goes on to taint interest in all extra language learning in general. Nobody hates the Danes here yet, so it would serve good one hundred years to keep us talking Nordic till we would have to switch to Icelandic for we would surely start to hate the Danish as well. Mandatory is the thing that makes everything so dull. I am not even sure English should be mandatory. As long as two fully optional languages are mandatory to pass at a high level like now, I am fine with that, be them whichever.

[@blackcoffeebeans6100]

Swedish is still the 2nd official language in Finland.

[@finnicpatriot6399]

Which should be abolished.

[@peterbradshaw8018]

Best empire yet the British Empire my language is the lingua Franca.

[@iippo06]

Finland the never ending colony of the dogmas of larger powers. From Lutheranism to Romantic nationalism to Multiculturalism of the West. I wonder how many thousands of years it will take before we define our own identity.

[@AK-jm1sc]

All countries have this history to some extent, it just depends on how far back you measure, there is no way a country exists in a void of no influence from it's neighbors or greater powers, except for some small island tribes, and that lack of influence is actually why they are so underdeveloped. Why do you think Swedish/Norwegian/Danish cultures have so much overlap, when they literally spend hundreds of years invading each other and forcing their will on the other. It's impossible to define an identity that looks completely inwards without acknowledging of vast sums of external influence. You'd have to define what is "root Finnishness" in a way that is only unique to Finns and has not been touched by any other nation in the thousands of years that it takes to build a national/people's identity. In fact, Finnishness itself is kind of an illusion, and wouldn't have made any sense to the ancestors of Finland hundreds of years ago.

[@The_GuyWhoNeverUploadsAnything]

Forcing every single Finn to learn Swedish in 2022 is a historical relic that's in no way practical nor useful. It is only a huge waste of resources and time and spreads anti-Swedish attitude among the Finnish population.

[@cognomen9142]

You know very well that that will end the good relations between Sweden and Finland.

[@The_GuyWhoNeverUploadsAnything]

@@cognomen9142 Why would it? Finns and Swedes already speak English when talking to eachother

[@openallnight2113]

You chose the only two individuals in Finland who like Swedish. The percentage 5% having Swedish as their first language means nothing because 99% of those speak perfect or fluent Finnish. So, there have maybe a population of 0,05%, or less, of Swedes who do not speak Finnish. That probably includes the entire Åland where you can't speak Finnish. They refuse to understand. The mayor here says "If we don't speak Swedish, we don't understand their culture". But he's a Finn. What part of his culture do I not understand? As far as Sweden goes, I do not understand their culture. The thing here is that Sweden lost the Finnish war on 1809. That's more than 200 years ago. And they still haven't assinilated to Finland. Finland is their old colony which they only exploited for resources. And - because of that - we should study Swedish? Worse yet, they have their own segregated apartheid institutions up to universities - entry to which is much easier than to the Finnish schools. The Swedes live around some isolated areas in their communities. And Finland is the least densely populated country in Europe. If not the world. In other words, we have plenty of land, and a small population. There's these Swedish speaking areas in the south and west coast of Finland. Nobody - who lives outside those areas never need Swedish - yet it is a mandatory language theoughout the country. Learning languages is good, of course, but learning Swedish is mere waste of time. Would you do the same documentary with the same tone if it was about the United Kingdom, and everybody would be mandated to study Celtic? I didn’t think so.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Not being able to graduate as a plumber from a vocational school without passing a Swedish course is just horrendous. Imagine, if the only options would be work for McDonald's or Foodora, you can't get any diploma without some Swedish skills. Why? We are a former colony and our language is closest to the indigenous Sami of Sapmi and very close to being completely mutually intelligable.

[@freezedeve3119]

it is not that hard to learn basic Swedish which is required to pass vocational school.

[@j.lahtinen7525]

The level of Swedish you have to have to pass vocational school is pretty low - if you have passable basic reading comprehension, that's enough. That is not a high bar for anyone in Finland, as all have studied some Swedish in school, and even if you suck at the language, with minor refreshing of memory, you can easily pass the test. I doubt there is anyone who has failed any vocational school training because of not being able to pass the Swedish test.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

@@j.lahtinen7525 Maybe so, but there is only one compulsory course at every university and many have not gotten their bachelor's due to having just this one course that cannot be done

[@LebowskiDudeful]

And what's more, due to having compulsory Swedish kids cannot take any language of their choice like German or French because you are only allowed to start one language per school. I started compulsory English at the age of ten and at thirteen I wanted to start Russian, but they said you can't possibly start Swedish snd Russian at the same time. Yet I ended up making my living knowing other languages than English or Swedish. Swedish is useless. They only teach Finnish-Swedish accent, so Swedes will immediatly change into English at the sound of that medieval Swedish.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

I think Finnish people should either learn compulsory Inari Sami or Estonian. Those languages are dying and are in fact so much more useful in finding a job than Swedish. Compulsory Norwegian would even make more sense than Swedish, but I have to prefer the tribal languages.

[@Wolfgonbuaf]

It's funny how Finland's native language (Sámi languages) is not an official language in fact it is the same language family as Finnish (Uralic) and more related, but they prefer the foreign language Germanic so sad Finland.. I have more respect for Norway which respects native languages.

[@turpasauna]

Saami is accepted as one the official minority languages.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Om svenska behöver vara obligatoriskt i Finland, behöver samiska vara obligatoriskt i Sverige. Våra svenska lärare kan inte särskilt mycket svenska, så lika väl kan ni använda finskarna som era samiska lärare, för att finska och samiska är lika nära till varann än isländska och svenska i brist på tillräckligt många samiska talare för att lära er efter era kolonialism.

[@samirantanen707]

Oh boy, living as Swedish speaking Finn is a treat. After all you represent 5% of the population. Rest of the country has to learn your language. It's mandatory. Taxpayers money is used for making road signs, labels, and such bilingual. Any social worker, doctor, dentist, et al has to be able to communicate with you, in Swedish! Or, if they can't, you can take the case to court! So, how we came to this? Well, the 5% still represents the wealthiest portion of the population. Long Swedish domination, wars, and shit like that also had an effect. In a time when practically every Swede and Finn speak English why is this forced bilingualism necessary?

[@orynx2835]

I have a question, if I decide to work in Finland as a foreigner, do I need to learn swedish too? I mean let's say I already know and have a certificate in Finnish, do I need one for swedish as well??

[@reijosalminen7502]

Why so much lies? Älä viitti.

[@samirantanen707]

@@orynx2835 As a foreigner you would be fortunately exempted from this burden. Only Finns are required to learn Swedish in government run camps before entering the workforce.

[@samirantanen707]

@@reijosalminen7502 Can you elaborate? IMO, my comment recaps the current state quite well.

[@orynx2835]

@@samirantanen707 oh great thanks man

[@Awakeningspirit20]

Languages are literally 0% similar, different language families. Finns: "sometimes we just kind of forget which one we even used." These people truly have evolved beyond mortal man haha

[@pyrylehtonen-caponigro3198]

For most Finns that is not the case. For most their main interactions with the Swedish language is it being a subject in school that everyone has to take.

[@alexmuller5833]

I think Finland should just take Finnish as an official language and Swedish as regional. 5 % is nothing

[@Mustanaamio7]

Only about 5 % of people in Finland speak Swedish. It's a totally irrelevant language to Finns.

[@vigetore9219]

I would agree if it weren't for that Sweden is a literary next-door neighbor and our second-largest trading partner, also we are part of the Nordic countries and it is expected for our nations to grow more cooperative in the future, Sweden also happens to be our biggest military partner. The only reason it's irrelevant is because of Finn's refusal to speak it, but like it or not there is no future where Finns will not have to learn it.

[@holoholopainen1627]

There are close to One Million - bi lingual ! That means that know both languages !

[@Mustanaamio7]

@@vigetore9219 We are trading with many other countries. It is still not a reason to speak their language. Swedes can also speak English and that is enough. No one is demanding that Swedes should speak Finnish so no one should demand that Finns should speak Swedish either.

[@martinfrostnas6610]

@@vigetore9219 Hungary is a neigbour of Austria, does that mean all Austrians ought to be forced to learn Hungarian in school? Thought not!

[@pia_mater]

There are many multilingual places in the world, this is nothing new or special

[@GirlfromFinland]

In modern days there is no point to be bilingual when there are so many different spoken languages. Totally waste of money and I am super annoyed that this is promoted even in foreign media who just thinks it is cool. Swedish speaking people in Finland and largely privileged in many ways and they have easier access to schools as well as it is easier for them to get governmental jobs.

[@LebowskiDudeful]

Swedish prevents learning other languages. I wasn't allowed to study any extra languages during my mandatory school years, they just said you can't start a new language at the same time as Swedish starts. Well, I have ended up making my living knowing languages and using over ten languages in customer interactions on a daily basis. I sure would have appreciated, if I had been allowed to study a language on top of Swedish, as Sweden is a no-go-zone due to gangs acting like they were in Inglewood, CA.

[@vigetore9219]

Da heck, to what schools did you go? When optional subjects allow you to choose multiple language courses at the start of 7th grade, ranging from Spanish, German, French, etc...

[@swedishmetalbear]

No Go Zone.. 🙄That is so over exaggerated. You cannot compare Sweden to Los Angeles. That is absolutely ridiculous. Same scare propaganda spread by our Nazi party to entice people into voting for them.. Which they did.

[@MewDenise]

Um... no?

[@LebowskiDudeful]

@@vigetore9219 Which schools do you know that allow students to starts several new languages at the seventh grade? They will say your grades are seven or eight in all subjects and we fear that you will not be able to learn two new languages at the same time, so we have decided not to allow you to start any. Yet, they could see my enthusiasm in learning a language of my choice, but grades matter in a language one is not keen on. So my only real choice would have been to start my only optional language during lågstadiet when I was just a baby and parents get to make that kind of choices for you , but come puberty learning languages of the big world started to be a huge interest. Hadn't I gone to a gymnasie I would have been left with English and Swedish. Nuts to curb genuine enthusiasm especially in subjects that are very practical and useful unlike the optional courses they let me pick instead like music.

[@terrificlion2328]

Don't get the point of this video. Several other countries are bilingual (or more). Canada, Belgium Switzerland just to mention a few. So what's the big deal with Finland??

[@Veronica-ew8yc]

Becuse the Finnish speaking is a litle bitt stupid. The dont understand that life getts better wiht 2 Ore even 3 more then only 🇫🇮

[@timoterava7108]

The share of the Swedish-speakers in Finland is (only) 5.2% - 4.9%, if you exclude the Autonomous Region of Åland. Still the Swedish-speakers are more privileged than the majority of the population (the Finnish-speakers) - more government money, easier access to universities (language quotas), better work options (all civil servants must pass the Swedish test). Also every Finnish citizen must study Swedish for years. I bet this all is very unique in the World.

[@Bazingaskibidirizz]

@@timoterava7108 like 95% of civil servants cant speak swedish so thats just a lie hahaha

[@timoterava7108]

@@Bazingaskibidirizz I repeat: ALL civil servants in Finland must pass the Swedish language test. How much they actually speak Swedish is another matter. But I agree, that (also) the test is pointless. The Swedish-speaking party demands, that every Finn must study Swedish and that every civil servant must pass the language test. Still they themselves consider that test void and e.g. demand, that they must have separate hospitals staffed by native Swedish-speakers.

[@blinder2786]

Kinda misleading. It has nothing to do with the country of Sweden, other than the language of course. It’s not swedish people, it’s finlandsvenskar (Swedish-speaking finns). It’s not swedish culture, it’s finlandsvensk culture.

[@fernandez3841]

Everybody is going to end up speaking American English anyways....

[@kanister60l39]

finnish speakers are mostly met whit hostility in swedish speaking areas only place this topic isnt really brought up is in the media.....

[@rasseranch9393]

I'm concerned about the future of finnish. Especially because of English loanwords and high amount of english speakers

[@SN-ym8vm]

Probably because you've gone into a Swedish speaking region and acted like an idiot when you haven't received your service in Finnish 🤣

[@Cronin_]

I have never heard of this... I have however heard of hostilities against Swedish speakers in Finnish speaking areas...

[@Bazingaskibidirizz]

😂😂😂

[@0Flow0]

As a Finn I want to get rid of mandatory Swedish in schools. I personally refuse to speak the language. I'm Finnish, not Swedish and I don't need the language anywhere

[@amadeuz8161]

Im probably more finnish than you in my genes and still my mother tongue is finswe. When will you ignorant peeps get it that we are not swedes living in finland like the finns living in sweden. Probably because most of my genes are from Karelia your logic makes me a Russian or? The swe speaking were the ones that easily got education in other germanic countries thus the ones that did a lot of the laws and built this land. Yes some nobels from sweden were given land and power here but it is time to move on and most of that money has gone back to sweden because of our heritage taxes. The fin language is a dead end language thanks to our kind neighbor and if you would be smart enough to see the benefits of having the chance to learn a germanic language as a kid it would make it easier for you to learn the other ones too(You can never know too many languages only too few). Just to pour some salt into your wounds, it was a swe speaking fin that wrote down your language by travelling between the villages and filling in words when you lacked em. Some more salt our commander leading our army so that you can today live in a country that is not Russia was swe speaking fin and because he had the basic of a germanic language it was easy for him to learn german and get trained there. Lets look at the national songs, pick one of em, both swe speaking fins.... I know that some of you ignorant peeps think they are all german persons. You probably want to learn spanish instead that is a really useless for most here except if you are going to move there or spend your days watching some soap operas increasing your brainsize, Russian would be even more valuable for those living at the border like swe for those on the other side. Do you even know how many languages I get almost for free for knowing swedish and I can even speak fin so that most of you ignorant peeps don't even know its not my mother tongue you just go on with your "why I hate swe language", then you go höhö "turkuu is a good place" and when you finally hear me speak swe you sit like stiff candles not knowing what to say. I have as little old money as you do, my genes are mostly karelian then some from ne and some from nw and the rest is southern finland, I will be called to defend the country(will they even ask you) and I speak finswe not some "skåne svenska" what some person is trying to teach you(tried to help my fin speaking friend and I had a hard time understanding)... Good thing is that most fin speaking finns ain't like you...

[@purplekys1536]

amen

[@toinenosoite3173]

It is so sad that you are so insecure!

[@SlyJohn]

Jag förstår. Vissa människor är inte så begåvad att kunna lära sig ett nytt språk

[@gagex6345]

Totally agree. Tired of having to look at all the signs and other stuff in the meatball language

[@Going_random]

what happen to sami language

[@NotMrKlapu]

not official

[@Lindasaur.]

Not an official language in the nation, but I believe it is something that is trying to be protected. I have at least been taught that sami people here in Finland have the right to education in their native language and they also broadcast news in sami here.

[@zaranski1889]

It is a pleasure knowing that you can survive with a indo-european language besides the english. Good thinh there arr options for those who don't want to learn their weird and hard language.

[@amadeuz8161]

One important thing. Our swedish ain't the same as the one spoken in sweden, close but not the same(Soon it will be easier to understand Norwegian because their language makes more sense and less made up words :D ).

[@kurtschneider5464]

It is very close to Norrbotten Svenska not so much Norwegian tbh..

[@amadeuz8161]

@@kurtschneider5464 True, its easier to understand someone from northern sweden than österbotten(I have relatives in both places so I have listened to both at the same time).

[@LukeWarm255]

All words are made up.

[@amadeuz8161]

@@LukeWarm255 True, but then someone wrote em down and called it a language and they evolve(Still have over 600 same words in swe and ger, with english we share loads but we pronounce em in a different way). My point was that our finswe is not as close to riksswe as many think. I can even understand a dane if they speak slow and take out the potato but some words in sweden makes no sense or have any similarity with any germanic language, its totally made up words. Seeing the same with fin in helsinki, its starting to add madeup words but its still only part of the dialect there and not added to the language(haven't checked em all so there could be a few added already).

[@pierreboullain533]

Richness of culture in these finnish-swedish cities is at its best when forced upon rest of the country. I guess that for example the Sami or any religious culture aren't anywhere near as "rich", since students all around aren't forced to study their language, culture or religious scriptures. To just know isn't enough. Vigorous everyday study and donation of one's unlimited time is what is considered enough. I love being inferior.

[@pyrylehtonen-caponigro3198]

And don't forget the oppression that the Saami and Karelians have faced

[@LebowskiDudeful]

In Finland we have 5,5% population of Swedish speakers, and the whole country is forced to learn that language in every school they go to. You can't even become a plumber before you can talk about shit in Swedish. We also have our indigenous European population, the joiking Sami, whose language is closely related to the Finnish language, but that language we can't study even if we volunteer. Weird, huh?

[@user-ce6iy2nw5o]

Our policy of shoveling the swedish language down our throat is ridiculous. Only 4% speak it natively, and the rest have to study it in school for 7 years. And well, it is pointles. Having gone through it the only thing i can say is "i can't speak swedish" in swedish. And no, i am the average of the students. So the "blinguality" is BS.

[@joannis46678]

I'm sad to see such hate for Swedish in Finland.

[@holoholopainen1627]

They made IT to Law - so many are - Not asked at all ! This IS quite common - at many European Nations !

[@hank4920]

It's cute to hear Sanna Marin speaking a Finno-Ugric language

[@jeppisnina]

Well, It´ s so sad that finnish speaking FInna have this attitude to Swedish speaking. Swedish speaking citizens pays taxes too, and we fought together against the Russians back in the days. We should stick together, espessially these days, when every swedish- or finnish speaking may be needen... we never know when we have to fight together again... you know...

[@pyrylehtonen-caponigro3198]

It's because it makes life harder for the average citizen

[@Feudorkannabro]

@@jeppisnina As a Finnish speaking Finn, I agree. Sad to see people saying bad stuff about Swedish speakers

[@lingo4048]

Their first language is globish anyway.

[@thepremudraya]

And in Ukraine 90% of the population speaks russian language but since 2014 is´t forbidden. Such a shame!

[@LebowskiDudeful]

It's not just an opinion that subjucating Swedish down our throats makes Finns much less capable in communicating with their European peers. It's one big language less they will learn, if any on top of Swedish and English. Imagine, if Swedish wasn't compulsory, Finns would then be forced to actually learn French, German or something else they have chosen and can use in their jobs. I'm talking about instead of Swedish people being forced to study a language on top of English. War on Swedish, what is it good for? The teachers are not fluent, and people don't learn anything as well as the subject they are really into and folks being into something is far likely to happen when you trick them by giving them at least a narrow choice, hey bud, wanna learn Swedish or French or Sami or German instead?

[@BBCWorldService]

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[@benquoyeser4401]

Finland Area: 1,086,844 sq miles Population 663,000,000 8.50% Demographics white 99.99% Age Pyramid 0-20 55% 364,100,000 20-90 32% 264,800,000 90-over 100 13% 86,060,000 I wish that Finland has all of Northwestern Federal District of Russia except for Kaliningrad Oblast, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Nenets-Yamalo Autonomous Okrug.

[@jasminekaram880]

99% white masks the ethnic divisions of Finns, Finland-Swedes, Samis, Russians and etc in Finland and the ethnic tensions that can arise. In many places of the world language and culture mean more than melanin.