Think like a Finn.
My mother came to visit on the weekend, and I tried my luck at doing one of her Finnish crosswords. I only got one answer correct – Atkins – and it’s not even a Finnish word.
However. I did understand a few clues (like karhu talo), even if I didn’t know the answer in Finnish.
We went out for breakfast on Sunday and we were able to have basic conversations. Is your tea good? I’ll take another cup. And for the first time I started to feel hopeful about my eventual fluency in this crazy language. I still am not so great with my vocabulary (I don’t remember the difference between tall and long, and the words for cold and hot are so maddeningly similar), but I think I understand the part of the language that used to frustrate me the most.
In English, we say, “Samantha is in the store.” In Finnish, we say, “Samantha on kaupassa.” There’s no separate preposition in in Finnish. Instead, there’s a word ending that means the same thing.* In this case, you add it to the word for store, kauppa. This was very hard for my English-speaking mind to believe was possible. In English, the construction of that sentence is pretty much, “Samantha is store-in.” But now I’m learning how to think like a Finn about it**, and things are opening up.
* – Dear Finnish speakers: I apologize if I gave a bad explanation! I’m still learning, and I’ve heard a rumour that spoken Finnish is different from what I’ve been learning anyway, but I wanted to give a general example.
** – I already think like a Finn about personal space, privacy and being on time for things, so I’m on the right track!
As a translator, I find it absolutely fascinating that changing languages also means adopting a completely different view of the world. Finnish sounds very challenging, and I wish you all the best in continuing to learn it!
(Your example reminded me of finding out that, in German, you need to add “ge” in front of a verb to make it past tense! How strange!)
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Samantha said:
February 20th, 2013 at 11:12
Oh, German! My brother was telling me – and I hope I have this correct – that German has one word to mean both “somewhere” and “anywhere.” I thought that was strangely lovely. So imprecise and relaxed!
And thank you for the well-wishes! It’s feeling easier than it did a few months ago.
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I’ve told you this before but I think you are so brave to learn Finnish! Through your thoughts I start to realize how incredibly messed up Finnish actually is, but also a very nice language.
A big hug for supporting our language and another hug just for being you!
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Samantha said:
February 23rd, 2013 at 10:58
Don’t worry, English is pretty messed up too! At least in Finnish you don’t have silent letters, or words that rhyme but aren’t spelled the same.
Hugs to you! xo
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Dear Samantha,
Since you started studying Finnish, you have learned very fast and I enjoy talking with you
in Finnish!
You make me very happy in learning Finnish and
when you go to Finland you will have fun talking in their language.
With love, your Mom xx
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Samantha said:
February 26th, 2013 at 08:55
Kiitos Äiti! I’m having fun talking with you too. xo
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