The Influence of Swedish on Finnish: A Comprehensive Overview

Finnish, a language belonging to the Uralic language family, is known for its rich vocabulary that includes a significant number of loanwords from Swedish. This article explores the extensive influence of Swedish on Finnish, discussing the historical and linguistic context, common loanwords, and the ongoing efforts to create artificial Finnish terms.

Historical Context and Linguistic Interaction

The history of Finnish and Swedish interactions dates back to the times of their respective proto-languages. Swedish, part of the Indo-European language family, and Finnish, part of the Uralic language family, have a long history of linguistic interaction. This interaction led to the borrowing of words, indicating a mutual influence between these languages.

For instance, the name of many professions in Finnish are borrowed from Swedish. Words like maalari (painter) and muurari (bricklayer) showcase this influence. Additionally, the names of most weekdays in Finnish are also borrowed from Swedish: maanantai (Monday), tiistai (Tuesday), torstai (Thursday), lauantai (Saturday), and sunnuntai (Sunday).

While there are around 4,000 Swedish loanwords in Finnish, the actual number might be higher if dialectal loans are included. These loanwords are significant because Swedish was the language of the elite administration and education for centuries, making it the primary means of borrowing for the educated class.

Common Swedish Loanwords in Finnish

Several commonly used words in Finnish have Swedish origins. For example:

Many terms related to handicraft and handiwork also come from Swedish or intermediate languages like Low German. For instance, the term maalari (painter) and muurari (bricklayer) are directly borrowed from Swedish. The word mestari (master or champion) also shows Swedish influence.

Swedish Loanwords in Finnish and Vice Versa

Swedish has also influenced Finnish by contributing various words. For instance:

The words pojke (boy) and ej (not) are clearly borrowed from Finnish. This bidirectional loanword exchange highlights the mutual linguistic influence between the two languages.

Linguistic Evolution: Artificial Finnish Terms

In recent years, there have been significant efforts to create artificial Finnish terms to replace old loanwords. These artificial terms are often seen as more modern and in some cases, seen as superior. However, the old loanwords are still used and are often perceived as old-fashioned or dialectal. This evolution in language usage reflects the changing cultural and linguistic values over time.

For example, the term for editor in Finnish used to be ?p?sti, a loanword from Swedish. The artificial Finnish term toimittaja was created to replace it, reflecting the ongoing effort to reclaim the language.

Conclusion

The influence of Swedish on Finnish is profound and multifaceted. From words related to professions and weekdays to terms borrowed from other Germanic languages, Swedish has significantly enriched the Finnish vocabulary. This study underscores the historical and ongoing interaction between these languages, highlighting their unique linguistic landscapes.

The rich linguistic heritage of Finnish provides valuable insights into the evolution of language and the mutual influences between languages belonging to different language families.