In response to a comment from Duluth in the USA, I am answering the following questions as this blog entry. I should state, that the responses are personal. In other words, they reflect my views. Another Swedish-speaking Finn might well give you a different reply.
What do Finland-Swedes think of Sweden?
It is hard to generalise and therefore the answer will depend partly upon who you ask. Perhaps, more especially it will depend on where you ask it. Here in southern Finland, Nyland, Sweden is most certainly more foreign than for those Swedish-speaking Finns living in Österbotten. For most of us, Sweden is a foreign country but perhaps the “least foreign” of foreign countries. We generally have a good idea of what is going on in Sweden as many of us watch Sweden’s television channels as well as those from Finland. In especially Österbotten, many people watch only Sweden’s television and barely, if ever, watch Finnish TV. This reflects the fact that the Finnish language has a much weaker presence in many areas of Österbotten, whereas in the south, almost all Swedish-speaking Finns live in areas that are at the very least bilingual if not very much dominated by Finnish. Of course, we all read books in Swedish, many of which are written in Sweden. The same is also true of magazines, many of us subscribe to Swedish magazines as the Swedish-language publishing market is naturally very limited in Finland due to the size of the market. Recently, of course, the internet brings a new dimension and perhaps for many has actually increased daily contact with Sweden as, of course, most Swedish language websites are from Sweden.
When it comes to sport or other competitive activities, we are like any other Finnish person. We prefer to see Finland winning.
What do Finland-Swedes think of the Finnish-speaking Finns?
Again, this will vary from person to person and possibly also from region to region. I can only really give you an answer from my personal viewpoint; they are just Finnish people who speak primarily a different language. They are perhaps also a little more quiet, but that is probably largely based upon stereotype. If you are interested to know whether they accept the Swedish language in Finland, then I would say that I notice a clear difference – at least in my home town, which is bilingual but has during the last few decades seen heavy inward Finnish-speaking migration. I would say that those Finnish speakers who have their roots in this area are generally very accepting of the fact that there are two languages. Those who do not like to think of Finland as a country with two languages and who hold more negative opinions of Swedish seem to be found disproportionately amongst those people who have more recently moved to the region. It is worth remembering that there are many relationships across the language barrier; not just the obvious, i.e. marriages, but work colleagues, friends etc also. It’s worth noting that just as there are Finnish-speakers who are intolerant of Swedish-speakers, there are some Swedish-speaking Finns who hold discriminative views of the Finnish language and Finnish-speaking Finns.
What do Finland-Swedes living in the mainland think of the Åland islands special status?
Interesting question. I suppose that some may be a little jealous that Åland is monolingual, simply because it would naturally be easier for anyone who has Swedish as their mother tongue to live their life entirely in Swedish. Others may think it is a little unfair that the people of Åland don’t have to do military service (an opinion probably shared by many Finnish speakers). Some may think it is unfair that Åland people do not need to learn Finnish etc. I think, however, that most people understand why Åland has a special status, due to history. Personally, I am glad that Åland is a legally monolingual part of Finland. It gives another reason to exert pressure upon the central government to supply resources and services in the Swedish language. Åland is probably also slightly disproportionately more popular as a tourist resort amongst Swedish-speaking Finns than Finnish-speaking Finns; it is however popular amongst all Finns.
How easy is it to get through a day using only Swedish and no Finnish?
This heavily depends on where you live – and also what you do. In many areas of Österbotten, it would be harder to get through your day using only Finnish than only Swedish. Whereas, if you were to find yourself in Helsingfors/Helsinki, the situation would be very much reversed. These days, it is often quite hard to find someone who will happily serve you in Swedish in the capital (aside from a few very “Swedish” companies). In my home town, it would be entirely possible. Most shop assistants are happy to speak at least some Swedish. Sometimes it goes quite well to speak Swedish to a Finnish-speaking assistant whilst they reply in Finnish. In the workplace, it really does depend where and what you do. For almost all jobs, you will require Finnish to some degree. But obviously, you might work in a Swedish-speaking school or all your colleagues might happen to be Swedish-speakers, in which case… you have it easy.
Do you learn Finnish at school?
Yes! In Finland, it is compulsory to learn what is called the “Other domestic language”, i.e. Finnish for children in Swedish language schools and Swedish in schools for Finnish language children. However, what is little known (at least to the Finnish speakers), is that Swedish schools devote many, many more hours to the Finnish language than Finnish schools devote to Finnish.
What do you think of the Finnish language?
I personally do not dislike the Finnish language. As with most languages, it can sound beautiful or absolutely disgusting depending on the speaker. It’s always of benefit to learn languages – the more, the better. It is important that Finland values its bilingual character. All of Finland’s languages are important.
Do Finland-Swedes ever face discrimination because they are from a minority group?
Not so much. But that is not to say that it does not happen. Most discrimination is of the infuriating or insulting nature rather than of the type that would actually hold you back from advancing in society. For instance, it’s extremely annoying if someone in state agency (lets say the tax office for an example) refuses to speak Swedish with you. It’s disgusting and offensive if someone tells you “In Finland, we speak Finnish” etc. But, such things very seldom cause you serious, real difficulties. However, that such discrimination does exist is sad and reflects only ill on those that harbour such attitudes.
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Tuesday 18.8.09 at 21:15
Richard
I think you start with wikipedia’s “Swedish speaking Finns” article.
Anyway, I personally view the term “Swedish-speaking Finn” as somewhat derogative and insult to my ethnic identity to which I have an existential right. I am a swede, a Finland-Swede. I think it’s sad to see that our host still continues the usage of the term.
What do Finland-Swedes think of Sweden?
Sweden is the ethnic motherland of Finland-Swedes, naturally. In capital region, one hear lot of opposing ideas to this, but for much of Svenskfinland Sweden is the closest country and has obviously a special place in the heart of Finland-Swedes.
What do you think of the Finnish language?
It’s an North-Asian, Fenno-Ugrian language, very different from european languages. Quite intriguing language.
Do Finland-Swedes ever face discrimination because they are from a minority group?
Daily. Flagrant violation of the language act are common, and in Finland they are not punished for. State employees are free violate the basic linguistic rights of Finland-Swedes without any repercussions. The administrative structures of Swedish language in official niveu and in municipality level are continously driven down.
Violent attacks against Finland-Swedes are common as well. In the capital region many Finland-Swedes choose not to speak their mother-language during the night time in order to avoid physical abuse.
Thursday 20.8.09 at 16:08
Martin-Éric
I’m looking for Nordic expats for a survey on accessibility to services in Swedish as an expat living in Finland. Please see:
http://www.magma.fi/martin-eric-racine/nordic-expats-living-in-finland-wanted-for-survey
Thursday 20.8.09 at 16:47
Jonas
Richard, I believe we had a discussion on terminology before. As I said then, I repeat now, I read no political inference into either term and am happy being referred to as either. However, the linguist in me and the experience from travel and living abroad (including in the English-speaking world) suggests that Swedish-speaking Finn makes more sense to native English speakers. Although, in truth, both have their shortcomings. One must remember that ‘Finn’ in English does not have thing to do with finne in Swedish, it is language-group neutral. Everyone that is a finländare in Swedish is a Finn in the eyes (or rather ears) of the English language.
That Sweden is the ethnic motherland of Swedish-speaking Finns is controversial. Some would agree. Others would not. Personally, I would point to the fact that nation states are a modern concept so it’s problematic to analyse on the past using modern terms of reference. This is such an instance where I find it erroneous, equally as much as when Finnish history text books refer to Ruotsi-Suomi.
The vast majority of Swedish-speaking Finns do not experience discrimination on a daily basis. That is a completely exaggerated picture in my opinion. That said, events that you describe do happen. Violent attacks because of language are not “common”, but they do happen. Which is also sad. The problem today is that there are too few (if any) Finnish-speaking leading politicians willing to communicate the advantages of Swedish and defend the bilingual nature of the country to a Finnish-speaking audience. It was better before with people like Virolainen and Lipponen. Today, Finnish-speaking politicians are too afraid of Soini’s mob who sadly have taped into a populist sentiment amongst some Finnish-speakers – instead they should be taking the fight to them and explaining why the True Finns party and such like thinking individuals are wrong.
Martin-Éric, good luck with your survey. Perhaps contact Hanaholmen. Maybe they can put you in touch with at least some Swedes living in Finland. Alternatively, there is a (Sweden-)Swedish parish church in Helsingfors, you could contact them as they certainly would know of Swedes in Finland. On the matter of the issue you bring up, Finnish law actually dictates that citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland are entered into the population database with Swedish as their contact language. Additionally on the subject, there is a very little known (and completely impracticable!) Nordic Coucil agreement which states that all Nordic citizen should get some basic services in their mother Nordic tongue in ANY other Nordic country. Obviously, that is just words on paper. I doubt the Icelandic government offers a plethora of services in the Finnish language for example!
Thursday 20.8.09 at 18:09
Richard
@Jonas,
well, I guess we slightly different approach to the topic. Anyway, I am very surprised that you have difficulties explaining Finland-Swedes to foreign public.
I always tell people that “I am from the Swedish minority of Finland”. Never experienced any problems. The concept of “minority” is universal, apart from Iceland, maybe, and familiar to most people. For most people the concept of “Swede” is also very familar.
I have travelled in Central-Eastern Europe and experienced the mess when some Finland-Swedes from Helsingfors have caused while trying to explain their ethnic identity. For most people in Central-Eastern Europe it does not make any sense at all if a person with a Swedish name and to whom Swedish is the first language is something else than a Swede, no matter where is he/she living.
I just came from a trip to Swedish Ostrobotnia. The trip was very illuminating. The Swedish Ostrobotnians refer themselves as bluntly svenskar (Swedes). The distinction with Swedes in Sweden is made with the term Sverigebo, a Sweden dweller. I rarely heard anyone referring him/herself as finlandssvensk, let alone svenskspråkig.
I am afraid that you, Jonas, interprete your own reality as the law in Svenskfinland. Your reality certainly does not match with most of the Svenskfinland (Österbotten, Västra åboland, Västra Nyland, Åland)
Thursday 20.8.09 at 19:13
Jonas
It’s not just me. I know many people have the same experience. Go to the group “Finlandssvensk” on Facebook and see the discussion, you will see many, many tales of the same story. Whilst I lived in Stockholm, I also found that even there we are often completely unheard of. The lack of knowledge about the only other group of people on the planet with whom the Swedes share a language with is somewhat shocking in my opinion. But, then we know that Sweden’s education system is not fantastic. Most Swedish-speaking Finns who have spent any time living in Sweden will have been complimented for their good Swedish at some stage. Sometimes it really is a lost cause trying to explain to Swedes that it’s because it’s your mother tongue as much as it is theirs.
For most people, including most people from Sweden, the concept of “Swede” is entirely connected to “of Sweden”. In English, 99 times out of 100, Swede denotes of Sweden. So, I would never say “I am a Swede” to a foreigner in English, as they then would think I am from Sweden which I am not. I am not from Helsingfors, incidentally. I am from very much a rural part of Östra Nyland which has much more in common with Österbotten than the capital. I know many people from Österbotten and I don’t think they’d wish to convey that they are from Sweden either.
Your trip to Österbotten and experience of Swedish-speaking Finns referring to themselves as being svenskar is natural. As svensk naturally has a different nuance and meaning in the Swedish language than the English language. It is not just in Österbotten that you would hear such a thing. We say precisely the same thing here. For the same reason you have Svenska folkpartiet, Svenska handelshögskolan, Sibbo svenska församling etc etc. Clearly neither of those have anything to do with advancing the interests of the country of Sweden either politically, in economic education or in religion!
I think you are confusing the meaning of English and Swedish words, quite understandably as the words could very much be categorised as “false friends” for they look so similar. It’s important, but often difficult, to remember that words that may look extremely similar and have the same etymological root can have completely different meanings in different languages.
I do not interpret my own reality as law. It is clearly not. Please reread my post. I have very clearly stressed it reflects my own opinion and clearly stated several times that different people might say completely different things if asked.
Friday 21.8.09 at 18:02
Richard
I see,
the knowledge of Finland-Swedes have rapidly increased in Sweden in the past decade. The heavy presence of Finland-Swedish TV personalities in Sweden has also contributed quite much. Swedish media write about Finland-Swedes these days quite much actually. In fact, Swedish Ostrobotnia (Finland’s side) was just thoroughly covered few weeks ago, the largest tabloid of the country, Expressen.
However, you shouldn’t be bothered about this too much. Swedes in Sweden do not have a monopoly for Swedishness. Most Swedes in Sweden have been brought up with the ultra-nationalistic view of the world, in which culture and ethnicity are strictly restricted inside the borders of modern national states. That’s rather sad and archaich view but gradually making its way out. It’s very alien approach already in most of Central and Eastern Europe. Here in north, the nationalistic views have preserved longer. Moreover, you should never think about what term is most easiest to use.
BTW how would you express finlandssvenskhet in english, is it Finland-Swedishness, or perhaps Swedish-speaking Finnishness? LOL.
Friday 21.8.09 at 19:45
Jeppis Kristian
I would also not ever say that I am a Swede to foreigners. I do not come from Sweden. I don’t have any problems with Sweden, its a nice place. But, I am Finnish.
This radio show is just a sad loser who wants to make people angry so she gets more ratings.
Friday 21.8.09 at 21:33
Richard
“Swedish minority in Finland” has never caused any misunderstandings. In fact it’s fully natural to most Europeans that the borders of culture do not always follow the artificial 1800s state-borders. People know that minorities exist. Even in Finland, I have been asked whether I am a “Swede” or “a Finn” by people who are perfectly aware that both of the etnicities are equally indegious in the country.
Idea that Swedes are divided by the current, artificial, man-made state-borders or the idea that Sweden’s current borders sports a a monopoly for Swedishness is just crazy to me.
For the president of Finland, the Carelians in Soviet Union/Russia were Finns, and were granted a Finnish citizenship during the aftermath of the collapse of Soviet Union. No one speculated that they are “Finnish-speaking Russians” and thus not Finns. That was simply an alien pattern of thought for Finns. The fact that none of these Ingrian Finns had born at the borders of Finnish protectorate didn’t change the issue. The message was clear, Finns are not divided by artificial state-borders. Should Swedishness dealt with some kind of an exception to this?
I am Finnish as well, as far as citizenship is concerned, I am also a Swede, part of the Finland-Swedish nationality of Finland.
Friday 21.8.09 at 22:13
Rasmus
Wow, those are some pretty hardcore hardline viewpoints. There are some people who think that way in Finland, but they are an absolute tiny minority. Like you can count them on not more than one hand. Probably all friends of Ida Asplund
Quite cool to hear somebody saying them though. In my 22 years of life, I’ve only met one guy who thought like that. But his dad was actually from Sweden. 
Saturday 22.8.09 at 12:13
Richard
I guess everything is relative, whereabouts Svenskfinland have travelled?
And speaking about Ida Asplund, I thinks it’s fair to say that she has the majority of Finland-Swedes behind her, they don’t call her Jean de Arch of Svenskfinland for nothing;)
http://svenska.yle.fi/obs/respons.php?id=359
“Webbomröstningen mellan Idas och Henriks linje är avslutad. Deltagandet har varit livligt, både i själva omröstningen och Ida avgick med segern, 66 procent var på hennes linje. Svarsalternativen var: Man gör som Ida Asplund – kräver service på enahanda grunder och slutar huka för finnarna! Eller som Henrik Lax – försöker öka finnarnas förståelse för finlandssvenskarnas problem. Här är alla kommentarer, utom de mest osakliga och de som inte hade något med ämnet att skaffa:
* SVAR: MAN GÖR SOM IDA ASPLUND – KRÄVER SERVICE PÅ ENAHANDA GRUNDER OCH SLUTAR HUKA FÖR FINNARNA! ”
In fact I am very, very puzzled what makes you refer my post as “extreme”. Besides, Ida Asplund is very much concentraded on the concept of Finland-Swedes and the human-rights of Finland-Swedes, she has never addressed the all-Swedish cultural roots or “Eastern Swedishness”as I and several Finland-Swedish scholars do. For most of the Svenskfinland is fully natural to feel affinity with the All-Swedish coastal culture of the Baltics, a culture that has never followed the man-made state-borders we have today.
Monday 24.8.09 at 10:01
Richard
BTW,
Jonas, howcome you don’t make headlines over the ongoing issue which is currently debated in the Svenskfinland. Johan Häggman, an employee of the Euopean Commissioners staff, and a minority expert, proposed South-Tyrol-style self-administration (partial autonomy) and fixed territorial protection for Swedish language for the Ostrobotnia, ie. no more flexible language relationships and fixed protection for Swedish as an administrative language, in a similar way that german is being protected in North-Italy. The bulk of the Svenskfinland view that the current language act is just a tool to finnicize the whole country. It’s a hoax.
Anyway, Vasabladet took very positive stance on the Häggmans suggestion, which was also proposed by Korsholms municpal director Rurik Alhberg, whereas in rest of the Svenskfinland the reception was quite lukewarm.
http://www.vasabladet.fi/story.aspx?storyID=46120
Monday 24.8.09 at 18:09
Jonas
Communication is about the conveyance of understanding. Thus naturally you should use a term which is most widely and easiest understood by the audience you are aiming to reach. I don’t continue with this pointless debate about English language terminology any further as, like I said in my first response to you on this matter, it really is not an issue that I consider very important. I think it’s an argument over split hairs and moreover, it obstructs debate on the actual real issues at play here (in this case, hate speech on the radio).
I most recently was based in Sweden 2005-2007 and I didn’t find that knowledge of Finland has particularly increased. If anything it has gone the other way. I should tell you that I work for a company that has its Northern European regional office in Stockholm and thus my most immediate colleagues (and indeed manager) are all in Sweden and are almost all Swedes. I travel regularly to Stockholm for meetings (and indeed not so infrequently for leisure). So, I have a not inconsiderable relationship with Swedish people.
That said, there are indeed a few more notable media personalities. This is true. But none are really of the same statue as those in the past, e.g. Donner. But, by and large Sweden’s deteriorating education system has caused knowledge about Finland in general to fall, especially amongst the younger generations. I think it is also fair to say that Swedes and the Swedish media are generally less interested in what is going on in the rest of the Nordic countries than the Finnish press (and people). At least, in my experience. I read an absolutely dreadful article in just Expressen a few weeks back (in the Travel section admittedly) about Finland. I contained so many errors, I am amazed it was even published. Incidentally, Aftonbladet long ago pulled a long way ahead of Expressen in sales.
With regard to the debate you mention and that the Vasabladet opinion refers to, I have read a bit in brief about that story. I have read a bit in brief about that story. This is not a news website however. I can’t take up every current event, I simply don’t have time to visit my own blog so much these days (perhaps you can tell by the time it takes to okay some comments which WordPress mysteriously decides need moderating). Some people have supported it, however many notable people have also not, Nordman, Wideroos etc. Personally, I think it would be a very bad move for those of us who do not live in Österbotten. It would be effectively abandoning us for their own protection. In any case, the whole discussion is academic, completely lacking in any realism. It is simply never going to happen as everyone knows. It reminds one of the discussions about a tunnel under Kvarken. Also, I’d suggest that the areas where real problems exist for Swedish service provision are in Nyland and Åboland. It is there that there is a more urgent need to concentrate efforts. Creating some form of special Swedish speaking region in Österbotten would only give the authorities the perfect excuse to completely give up on Swedish in these places. One should remember, that there are more Swedish speakers in Nyland than Österbotten. So, it would not be a good or just compromise. But that’s a whole different discussion to Virtanen’s remarks. This is not a general forum.
Wednesday 26.8.09 at 20:19
Richard
Regard to your notions about Österbotten, I am just amazed how on earth can postulate that a protection for someone else equals weakened protection for you. And with protection I mean cultural integrity. This is not a zero-sum-game.
Ofcourse Nyland Swedes need better protection as well, but Swedish Österbotten is particularly easy case to begin with, since the is it still overwhelmingly Swedish. Finland-Swedes are historical national minority, and strongly bounded to territory (Finland’s coast). It’s not an utopia to expect Finland to treat Finland-Swedes as the way Italy is treating its German minority.
The current language act is a hoax, an instrument that guarantees 100% Finnish-speaking Finland in the future. Bi-lingualism is impossible scenerio without proper administrative structures feeding it. In regards to Swedish administrative structures….let just say that Finland is not too keen on holding them and the process of sophisticated genocide against Finland-Swedes is at full pace. De facto Finland-Swedes are left without any minority protection, especially since Finland does not even oblige with the minority conventions of the Counsil of Europe, as the Karleby case proved.
Few decades ago the odds for idea of the indegious minorities gaining any territorial recognition in Ecuador was close to zero. The minorities were attacked with all kinds of arguments imaginable “traitors, seperatists, etc”, however the minorities never gave up and started to refer themselves as nationality instead of minority. Today Ecuador have granted extensive territorial recognition and cultural integrity for several indegious minorities.
I could also point out that self-determination and cultural integrity are the existential rights for every minority, including Finland-Swedes. Anyway, you are living proof that there’s lot of work to do in Svenskfinland. Gaining territorial protection for Finland-Swedes in the form of autonomy is not going to be easy, however it’s too important aspect to let go.
Wednesday 30.9.09 at 13:16
Jonas
Firstly Richard, I really must apologise. I have left my blog alone for over a month. So, sorry both your latest comment got stuck in the moderation queue (I have no idea why some comments go there and others do not, such is WordPress) for so long and that my reply has taken rather a while to find its way here.
Honestly, if I thought it some form of special status were obtainable, I’d be supporting it. But, I am a realist. The only time such a thing is going to occur is in my bed when I am asleep and dreaming. There is no hope it is going to happen. It’s a waste of effort pursuing, and dangerous to turn one’s back from the real fight with such a distraction. We could not even get a territorial solution back in 1919 when we did, by and large, actually form quite largely homogenous territorial groupings. The Finnish-speakers wouldn’t have it then, even when few of them would have ended up living in such an area. So, it definitely isn’t going to happen in 2009. The whole debate on this is essentially mind gymnastics for academics and leader writers. And, actually, I am not sure I would be comfortable with the idea of living in some form of ‘reserve’. Swedish must and should be a language in which services are available as readily as Finnish – the ability to access services must be equal in both languages, but it should be side-by-side. We must fight those that hold the idea that being Finnish must mean you speak Finnish as your mother tongue. It does not.
Let’s return to the subject of Österbotten. Österbotten’s population is 52,1% Swedish. 46,1% of the people of Österbotten have Finnish as their mother tongue (according to Vikipedia). What would we do with them? It is also worth noting that if the new language consequence assessment overturns the government’s decision to place Mellersta Österbotten (incl. Karleby) into Uleåborg/Oulu’s administrative district and it is instead orientated towards Vasa (as it should rightly be), Finnish will actually become the language of the majority in the new Österbotten as a consequence. Anyway, if you create a Swedish special district of Österbotten, of course it would weaken the position of Swedish in the rest of Svenskfinland. Unfortunately many Finnish-speaking officials would only love to have the excuse to say that “You don’t live in the ‘special Swedish district’, so why do you expect us to speak Swedish to you?”. It’s often hard enough as it is to get them to live up to their legal obligations here. People in Österbotten do not know how easy, relatively speaking, they have it in getting Swedish service. This idea that some people in Österbotten have that they are somehow “more proper” Swedish-speaking Finns is somewhat offensive to us down here, as it is not true; it’s hardly our fault that during the last decades of the twentieth century so many Finnish-speakers moved to Nyland reducing our numbers as a proportion of the population (but not significantly numerically, we are still many more Swedish-speakers in Nyland than there are in Österbotten). I have heard some stupid proposals to centre all Swedish-speaking institutions (broadcasting, education etc etc) in Vasa recently. This would damage Swedish here in Nyland no end. Many, many people down here would simply turn to options in the Finnish language if this was ever done. We already saw the huge shortages in Swedish-speaking daycare staff in Nyland when the education was centred in only Jakobstad. Many people would rather made do with educating themselves in Finnish near their home than travel all the way to another region of the country where they know nobody – this is the reality. And in any case, Vasa seems a silly proposal for some kind of capital of Svenskfinland, it itself only being a quarter Swedish-speaking. My own hometown has a higher proportion with Swedish as their mother tongue than Vasa.
Changing the constitutional position of Swedish to a “minority language” rather than its current status as a fully fledged official language would place those Swedish-speakers who live in areas that have today become very Finnish dominated in a very precarious position. Again, if we have difficulty enough organising Swedish-speaking services by the central authorities in Helsingfors/Helsinki and local services in the Capital Region and in areas that have been heavily settled by Finnish-speakers (places like Sibbo, Kyrkslätt etc) whilst Swedish is an official language of the country, how will we fare when Swedish is “just” a “minority language”.
The Tirol German autonomous area is very different to Finland. Ecuador is so different a situation it is not even comparable. The Tirol area is roughly 75% German speaking. What’s more, I bet you don’t get services from central authorities in Rome in German. We still have a far better situation in many ways in that respect.
The vast majority of Swedish-speaking Finns do not wish to be seen as a separate nationality! All the surveys that have been done show that! We just want to be able to speak Swedish, our mother tongue, in Finland, our homeland. That is where the fight lies. To ensure the state stops encroaching on this right. To remind people that Swedish is as much a language of Finland as Finnish and Sami
Tuesday 13.10.09 at 21:44
Töyrä
I am myself a tornedalian. I have not any other connection to the swedish speaking minority in Finland other than my mother-tounge is swedish. My “moffa”, grandfather was forced in school to talk swedish and he wanted the best for his children, in the tornedalian area it was viewed at the times that being an “umikko” (one languaged swede) was something good, and the dialect of tornedalen was backwards and half.
The swedish goverment was afraid of the ultranationalistic fennomans in Finland that tried to create “suur-suomi” (Greater Finland) and lay claim to all finns in Norrbotten.
In some aspects I am happy that i got to have swedish as my first language because it have been a great stepping-stone to larger related languages as english, german and so on. Swedish is a part of the large Indian-european family, contrary to finnish which have only estonian, hungarian and several minorities in russia as its only relatives.
Finnish have also under a very, very long time cooperated with at least one germanic language.
This is evidently so by watching the finnish word for king and queen (kuningas ja kuningatar), this derives from the gothic (east germanic language) word for king, kuningaz, related to proto germanic. Also the word for and in finnish (ja) is frequent in gothic. Read Codex Argenteus.
Also did the long time of mutual coexistens between finns and swedes make the finnish language adopt approximately 2-3000 words from swedish.
The finns and swedes had no problem with each other until the russians stirred up the hate in the 19:th century. As one with finnish heritage (and never belonged to Finland) I find it extremly enriching to live with such cultural richness. Swedish and finnish i closely related in culture and history and I get very sad when finnish tornedalians show such bigotry and discrimination. Sadly I as swede feel discriminated in Tornedalen, even on the swedish side.
For a long time I felt very angry at the finns for their discrimination, but now I feel that it is just their loss. They can keep on thinking that finnish is a world language. We who are open to new languages and thinking leap before them. Finland-swedes have the upper hand against the finns who think they dont need any other language. Such finns belong to the 1930:s.
Monday 26.10.09 at 7:20
Meg
Enjoyed reading this interesting discussion! Just thought I’d throw in my two cents here as a native English-speaker who has lived in Swedish-speaking Finland. The term “Finland-Swedes” may make sense in other languages, but it is quite confusing in English. The term “Swede” is almost universally associated with the country of Sweden. On the other hand, I have found that “Swedish-speaking Finn” is quite understandable for most English speakers (although surprising to most people as a concept).
Monday 26.10.09 at 13:01
Jonas
Hello Meg,
.
Thank you for your comment. I am glad you enjoyed reading this, at times, somewhat repetitive discussion
I have found exactly the same thing when speaking to native English-speakers (and indeed other nationalities in English). It is good to have my findings confirmed by a native speaker.
Wednesday 3.2.10 at 5:32
Arctic Chill
Want two more cents from another native English speaker? LOL. I concur with Meg. I have never been to Finland or met a Swedish-speaking Finn, but I understand the term. You are Finnish, but your primary (and first language in this case) is Swedish.
As an American, this is what I think when I hear Finland-Swede: 1. You are originally from Finland, but moved to Sweden. 2. You were born and raised in Sweden, but your parents and/or ancestors came from Finland. Eitherway, a Swede of Finnish descent. From what I have read on your blog, Jonas, I don’t think you are either
Wednesday 3.2.10 at 15:01
Jonas
Hi Arctic Chill. Nice to hear from you. I am glad that my English is not completely awful and that my suspicions regarding what term is clearest were correct!
I am also glad to hear that it’s clear I am not from Sweden!
Thursday 23.2.12 at 16:02
Cris
I am married to a Swedish speaking Finn and she has felt a slight hand of discrimination from both sides…Your Swedish sounds like a Finn from the Swedes and your Finnish is not up to par to be a Finn. It’s not easy being in the middle, where to do belong and where you feel comfortable becomes a very small place…or Duck pond. I feel for her.