Curiosities in Finnish
Posted: 21 Dec 2019 10:17
Years ago, I made a Finnish course here. Honestly, the Internet is full of better ones. Finnish is not that rare. I learned more myself than if somebody ever read my explanations.
Anyway, I think there are curiosities in Finnish (and surely every other language someone happens to know) that people here could be interested in, curiosities that are not mentioned in basic text books. So, this thread is rather a blog on things I think might interest linguistics nerds.
Content:
Words for 'friend': This massage below
Difference between pronouns hän and se: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7129#p298170
Word order and information structure: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7129#p298477
Modal verbs for 'be able': viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7129#p298566
Finnish has several words for 'friend'. One might theorize how is caused by our stereotypical love of privacy.
The difference between (1), (2), and (3) is basically the degree of closeness. (4) rather based on something shared, rather than closeness.
1) tuttu (~ tuttava)
Etymologically it is a passive participle of tuntea 'to feel' or 'to know'. The corresponding participles in modern language are tunnettu and tunnettava. At some stage of Proto-Finnic clusters of three consonants were not allowed, so tun(e)ttu => tuttu, tunn(e)ttava => tuttava (similarly *lapsta => lasta, lapsi 'child').
Semantically it means a not-very-close friend, person you greet when you happen to meet. i think "acquaintance" does as a translation.
2) kaveri
I have at least heard a theory that kaveri is an amalgamation of "comrade" (not a Finnish word but appears in languages of the area) and toveri (in 4).
This is the word you usually use for "friends". They are people you like and have voluntary contact with. You hang together etc.
3) ystävä
Its etymology is vague. The nicest I found is there was an old verb *yskätä 'to hug'. So ystävä would be an old passive participle *yskättävä 'one being hugged'.
Ystävä means a very close friend. People usually have only one or two of them. Many have none. You should be able to trust your ystävä and tell them intimate things etc.
(4)
There is also word toveri.
It's a loan from Russian товарищ.
You don't need to like your toveri. Toveri is one with whom you have something in common.
luokkatoveri 'class friend' i.e. person at the same class
kohtalotoveri 'destiny friend' i.e. a person that has experienced similar things
työtoveri 'colleague'
huonetoveri 'room mate'
Toveri has, however, had some inflation because it is nowadays heavily associated with communists. toveri Stalin, toveri Kuusinen, toveri Jylling etc. Our new prime minister Sanna Marin, though, likes to start her speeches with "Toverit, ..." 'Friends, ...'. I don't know if that is wise political rhetoric.
IMO the inflation of toveri is sad because making distinction with people you like and people with whom you cooperate is quite important.
If somebody disagrees with my analyses, let me know.
Anyway, I think there are curiosities in Finnish (and surely every other language someone happens to know) that people here could be interested in, curiosities that are not mentioned in basic text books. So, this thread is rather a blog on things I think might interest linguistics nerds.
Content:
Words for 'friend': This massage below
Difference between pronouns hän and se: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7129#p298170
Word order and information structure: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7129#p298477
Modal verbs for 'be able': viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7129#p298566
Finnish has several words for 'friend'. One might theorize how is caused by our stereotypical love of privacy.
The difference between (1), (2), and (3) is basically the degree of closeness. (4) rather based on something shared, rather than closeness.
1) tuttu (~ tuttava)
Etymologically it is a passive participle of tuntea 'to feel' or 'to know'. The corresponding participles in modern language are tunnettu and tunnettava. At some stage of Proto-Finnic clusters of three consonants were not allowed, so tun(e)ttu => tuttu, tunn(e)ttava => tuttava (similarly *lapsta => lasta, lapsi 'child').
Semantically it means a not-very-close friend, person you greet when you happen to meet. i think "acquaintance" does as a translation.
2) kaveri
I have at least heard a theory that kaveri is an amalgamation of "comrade" (not a Finnish word but appears in languages of the area) and toveri (in 4).
This is the word you usually use for "friends". They are people you like and have voluntary contact with. You hang together etc.
3) ystävä
Its etymology is vague. The nicest I found is there was an old verb *yskätä 'to hug'. So ystävä would be an old passive participle *yskättävä 'one being hugged'.
Ystävä means a very close friend. People usually have only one or two of them. Many have none. You should be able to trust your ystävä and tell them intimate things etc.
(4)
There is also word toveri.
It's a loan from Russian товарищ.
You don't need to like your toveri. Toveri is one with whom you have something in common.
luokkatoveri 'class friend' i.e. person at the same class
kohtalotoveri 'destiny friend' i.e. a person that has experienced similar things
työtoveri 'colleague'
huonetoveri 'room mate'
Toveri has, however, had some inflation because it is nowadays heavily associated with communists. toveri Stalin, toveri Kuusinen, toveri Jylling etc. Our new prime minister Sanna Marin, though, likes to start her speeches with "Toverit, ..." 'Friends, ...'. I don't know if that is wise political rhetoric.
IMO the inflation of toveri is sad because making distinction with people you like and people with whom you cooperate is quite important.
If somebody disagrees with my analyses, let me know.