The Origin of Finnish

Finnish is a member of the Finno-Ugric language family a group that also includes languages spoken by indigenous peoples of northern Russia, such as Estonian, Hungarian, and several lesser-known languages like Karelian and Sámi. This is quite different from most European languages, which typically belong to the Indo-European family. Finnish and Estonian are often grouped together as close relatives, but Finnish is significantly more distant from Hungarian, which is a member of the same Uralic family. The Uralic family is believed to have originated from a common ancestor language spoken by people who lived around the Ural Mountains, an area that spans Russia and Kazakhstan.

Finnish is the official language in Finland and is used by Finnish-speaking minorities in Sweden and Estonia. The majority (more than 90%) of Finland’s population speaks Finnish, while the remainder speaks Swedish and Sami. The Finnish language, or suomi as it is called in its native tongue. Spoken by approximately 5.5 million people, the majority of whom reside in Finland.

One of the most distinctive features of Finnish is its sound. For English speakers, Finnish can seem like an entirely foreign tongue due to its lack of many sounds found in English. The language is characterized by clear vowels, relatively simple consonant sounds, and a rhythmic flow that relies heavily on vowel harmony.　Finnish is known for its vowel harmony system, where vowels within a word must harmonize, meaning that front vowels (like ä, ö, and y) cannot co-occur with back vowels (like a, o, and u) within the same word. This system adds a musical quality to the language, and native speakers will effortlessly adjust vowel sounds when forming different word forms.

In contrast to many languages, Finnish has a relatively straightforward and highly regular grammatical structure. While English relies heavily on word order to convey meaning, Finnish uses a case system, in which the function of a word within a sentence is indicated by its ending. Finnish has 15 grammatical cases, each serving a different syntactical purpose. These include the nominative (the subject case), the genitive (indicating possession), and the illative (indicating motion into something). A simple example of a case change would be the word talo, meaning "house." In the nominative, it remains talo, but in the illative (motion into), it becomes taloon (into the house) in the illative case, and talossa (in the house) in the inessive case. While the extensive case system may initially seem daunting, it provides a high degree of flexibility in word order. Sentences can be rearranged without changing their meaning, as the grammatical relationships between words are already clearly marked by their case endings. Additionally, Finnish lacks articles (such as "the" or "a" in English), and it does not use gendered nouns, a feature that makes the language relatively straightforward in this regard. For example, the word ihminen means "person," and it applies equally to men and women, without any need for differentiation.

Finnish retains a strong ability to create new words by compounding existing ones. For example, the word lentopallonpeluuseura means "volleyball club," and it is formed by combining lentopallo (volleyball), peluu (play), and seura (club). This process allows the language to remain highly adaptable while staying true to its roots.

Finnish does not have a distinct future tense. Instead, it uses the present tense to express future actions, relying on context to clarify whether something is happening now or in the future. For example, Menen kauppaan means "I go to the store" or "I will go to the store," depending on the context.

Finnish is also known for its ability to express complex ideas in single words. For instance, the word sisu does not have a direct translation in English but refers to a uniquely Finnish concept of determination, grit, and resilience in the face of adversity. In the Finnish alphabet, 'Å’ is carried over from the Swedish alphabet and is redundant in Finnish; it is merely retained for writing Finland-Swedish proper names.

Alphabet:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z Å Ä Ö
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v x y z å ä ö

Finnish Literature and National Identity

Finnish literature was largely oral before the 19th century. Stories, songs, and sagas were passed down verbally from generation to generation. The Kalevala is one such example of oral traditions that were collected and written down during the national awakening. The rise of written Finnish literature came with the development of a standardized written language and the Finnish national identity in the 1800s. One of the most important works of Finnish literature is the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland.

Compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century, the Kalevala is a collection of ancient Finnish oral poetry, primarily derived from folk songs and stories. It consists of 50 poems and over 22,000 verses, narrating the mythological history of Finland, including tales of heroes, gods, and magical creatures. The Kalevala is not only a cornerstone of Finnish culture but also a major influence on Finnish art, music, and identity. As Finland was under Russian rule during this time, literature became a way to foster a sense of independence and unity.

Authors like Johan Ludvig Runeberg (author of The Tales of Ensign Stål) influenced Finnish culture lifting the common people as heroes, despite the hardship of their life.

The first and eleventh stanza of "Maamme" - Vårt Land from the Finnish translation of The Tales of Ensign Stål becomes the Finnish national anthem.

The poem "Soldatgossen" ("Boy soldier") was also influential where it exalted the military virtues shaping of the legend and myth of the Finnish soldier. The narrator is a young boy, who relates the story of his family, all soldiers. They have respectively all died in the wars of Finland, fighting for their king and country. The boy is now an orphan, but he is proud of his military legacy. He says he was only a child when his father left, subsequently to be killed in battle. There is a sense of tragedy in the poem, for the boy cannot wait to join himself; he says he wants to go "where the bullets sing hardest, where the fire fulminates". Moreover, he states he cannot not go there, there is an inner compulsion to follow the road marked by his forefathers.

The first novel written in Finnish is Seitsemän veljestä (Seven Brothers) by Aleksis Kivi, published in 1870. This novel, which tells the story of seven rebellious brothers in rural Finland, is considered one of the greatest works in Finnish literature. Kivi’s use of Finnish dialects and his exploration of the Finnish psyche have made Seitsemän veljestä a classic of Finnish literature.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a "golden age" for Finnish literature. Eino Leino, who became a central figure in Finnish literature. Leino’s poetry explored themes of Finnish folklore, nature, and existential questions.

Finland has produced several Nobel laureates in literature. The most famous among them is Frans Eemil Sillanpää, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1939. His novels, such as Ihmiset suviyössä (People in the Summer Night), are known for their detailed depictions of rural Finnish life, and his works are highly regarded for their emotional depth and lyrical style. Ihmiset suviyössä has been said to be an ode to a Finnish summer night. It deals with the biggest issues of life; birth, death and what effects love or the lack of it has on man.

Tove Jansson, one of Finland’s most beloved authors, is internationally famous for creating the Moomins, a series of whimsical and philosophical children’s books that have been translated into numerous languages. The Moomins, with their diverse characters and insightful commentary on life, have become an iconic part of Finnish culture. Jansson's work has expanded far beyond children’s literature, with her later works delving into themes of solitude, creativity, and human relationships.

The 20th century saw the emergence of the modern Finnish novel, which often dealt with themes of social change, the human psyche, and Finland's political history. Authors like Väinö Linna (The Unknown Soldier), wrote about the Finnish experience during and after World War II.

Finnish Art

The late 19th century saw the rise of the National Romantic movement in Finland, which was a reaction to the country's political situation under Russian rule. Finnish artists began to embrace themes that were connected to Finnish history, folklore, and landscapes. The movement was part of a broader national awakening, which sought to assert Finnish identity. One of Finland’s most celebrated artists, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, is famous for his powerful depictions of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic.

His iconic painting The Defence of the Sampo (1896) is one of the most important works in Finnish art, capturing a dramatic scene from the Kalevala. Gallen-Kallela’s work helped establish Finnish art as distinct from Swedish and Russian traditions, and his use of vivid colors and symbolic forms influenced future generations of Finnish artists.

Portrait of the Heikki Järnefelt (1897)

Eero Järnefelt was a prominent Finnish painter who played a significant role in shaping Finnish art during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work is particularly associated with the national romanticism movement and the development of Finnish art as a distinct and recognized style. While Järnefelt is best known for his landscapes, he was also skilled in portraiture and genre paintings. His portraits, often of Finnish intellectuals and key cultural figures, helped elevate the status of portrait painting in Finland. Additionally, his genre scenes, such as depictions of rural life, explored the lives of the common people. These works showcased the simplicity and nobility of Finnish peasants, helping to foster a sense of pride in Finland’s rural traditions and contributing to the broader nationalistic narrative in art.

The Convalescent - Toipilas

At the turn of the 20th century, Finnish art experienced an important shift with the influence of the European Symbolist movement. Helene Schjerfbeck, one of Finland’s most acclaimed painters, became famous for her emotionally intense portraits and introspective self-portraits. Schjerfbeck’s work is often characterized by minimalistic compositions, subtle use of color, and a deep focus on the psychological state of her subjects. She is considered one of Finland’s foremost modernist artists.

Aalto University in Otaniemi, Finland (1949–66)

Finnish design has had a profound global impact, especially in the 20th century. Alvar Aalto, one of Finland's most influential architects and designers, helped introduce the world to modern Scandinavian design. Aalto’s furniture, lighting, and architecture combine function with organic shapes, drawing on the Finnish connection to nature.

His designs, including the famous Aalto vase, became synonymous with minimalist elegance and are now part of collections in museums around the world.

Iittala, a Finnish design company, became a major player in the global glass and tableware industry during the 20th century. Finnish glass designers, such as Timo Sarpaneva and Kaj Franck, revolutionized glassmaking by blending craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.

Santa Claus and Moomin

Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, is considered the official hometown of Santa Claus. Located right on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is a popular tourist destination for those wanting to experience the magic of Christmas all year round. The Santa Claus Village, situated just outside Rovaniemi, is the primary attraction where visitors can meet Santa Claus, send postcards from the official Santa Claus Post Office, and cross the Arctic Circle. The Santa Claus Village is a year-round Christmas-themed attraction where visitors can meet Santa Claus himself, who greets people from all over the world. The village is open every day of the year, allowing Christmas enthusiasts to experience the magic of Santa’s home even in the summer. The Santa Claus Post Office, situated in the village, has been operating since 1985. Each letter sent from the post office receives a special Arctic Circle stamp and postmark, adding to the magic of the experience. Visitors can also write letters to Santa Claus, which are answered by his elves. The Santa Claus Post Office receives over a million letters from children (and adults!) worldwide every year, making it one of the busiest post offices in Finland. Rovaniemi is located exactly on the Arctic Circle, and visitors to Santa Claus Village can experience the magic of crossing this imaginary line. The Arctic Circle marks the latitude at which, for half the year, the sun does not set (the midnight sun) and for the other half, it does not rise (polar night). Imagine standing across the "official" line that separates the Arctic from the rest of the world.

The name Joulupukki comes from Finnish traditions, where "joulu" means "Christmas" and "pukki" means "goat." Historically, Finnish folklore described a figure who would visit homes during Christmas time, often dressed in furs and sometimes associated with a goat-like creature. Over time, the character of Joulupukki evolved into the jolly Santa Claus that we recognize today. While the modern-day Santa Claus is known for his red suit, in Finland, Joulupukki is typically depicted as wearing a red or traditional fur-lined coat.

The Moomin books have been translated into more than 50 languages, making them a global phenomenon. These translations helped Tove Jansson’s work gain a worldwide audience, and the Moomins are now well-known in countries around the world, including Japan, where they have a particularly devoted following.

The Moomin family consists of several key characters, with Moomintroll being the protagonist in many of the books. Other main characters include Moominmamma (the caring mother), Moominpappa (the adventurous father), Snufkin (a free-spirited traveler), and Little My (a feisty, mischievous character). Each character has distinct traits, and their personalities resonate with a wide range of readers. The Moomins have a distinctive philosophy of life that reflects Tove Jansson’s values. The characters live in harmony with nature and with each other, often focusing on simplicity and mindfulness. Whether it’s Moominmamma’s loving care, Snufkin’s wanderlust, or Little My’s adventurous spirit, the characters embody the importance of living in the present moment and finding joy in the small things.

Ei ole mikään konsti olla rohkea, jos ei pelkää? - For if you’re not afraid how can you really be brave?

Need a translation or localization estimate? Please contact us at info@idioma.com