Finnish people show flexibility in language attitudes, according to a new study conducted by E2 Research on behalf of the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland.
More than half of Finns — 56 percent of respondents — are willing to receive care from doctors and nurses who are still learning Finnish or Swedish.
Swedish-speaking Finns are, on average, more positive about the issue.
The study examined Finnish identities and attitudes towards language learning, multilingualism, and the future language landscape.
A majority of Finns, nearly 70 percent, are also willing to help immigrants learn Finnish or Swedish. More than 90 percent, however, want foreigners moving to Finland to learn one of the country’s national languages, the study revealed.
"Finland needs skilled personnel in many sectors. For international recruitment, it's good news that developing language skills — for example among nurses or doctors — is met with a positive attitude," said Susanna Pettersson, CEO of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
The survey and interview study was conducted in February–March of this year, and around 1,500 responses were collected from across the country through two survey datasets.
Language learning valued
The study shows that Finnish identity is important to nearly everyone, with around 85 percent of respondents saying they want to be understood in their mother tongue.
While mother tongue remains central to identity, language learning is highly valued. The main motivation is the belief that strong language skills support a well-rounded education, with nearly half (49 percent) of Finns agreeing.
Two-thirds of respondents said they are happy to speak a foreign language, even if their skills are imperfect.
Nearly 90 percent of Finns value dialects, the research found. However, around 70 percent consider proficiency in standard language a mark of education and want standard Finnish to be used in official contexts.
The study also revealed that about two-thirds of Finnish speakers and three-quarters of Swedish-speaking Finns support strengthening the Sámi language.
