Learn what topics you should avoid during small talk in Finnish
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| Michael: What topics are taboo in Finnish? |
| Anni: And what are some things you should avoid doing? |
| Michael: At FinnishPod101.com, we hear these questions often. Imagine the following situation: Karen Lee and Kati Koski are chatting in a nice atmosphere while drinking coffee. Everything changes when Karen asks a forbidden question. |
| "How much do you earn?" |
| Karen Lee: Kuinka paljon ansaitset? |
| Dialogue |
| Karen Lee: Kuinka paljon ansaitset? |
| Kati Koski: Se ei kuulu sinulle… |
| Michael: Once more with the English translation. |
| Karen Lee: Kuinka paljon ansaitset? |
| Michael: "How much do you earn?" |
| Kati Koski: Se ei kuulu sinulle... |
| Michael: "It's none of your business..." |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Michael: There's a reason why Finland has been named the happiest place in the world four years in a row; most Finns generally have a positive outlook in life. What many people from other cultures do not realize, though, is that Finns can be reserved and do not consider quiet moments in conversations awkward. Finns are genuine and mean what they say. When someone tells you |
| Anni: Mennään joskus lasilliselle |
| Michael: or "Let's have a drink sometime," you can expect that person to call you soon and ask you out for a drink. At the same time, you have to keep in mind that, while Finns can be talkative too, they're not afraid of keeping quiet when they feel there's nothing essential to say. In relation to this, you need to be aware of taboos, or |
| Anni: tabut, |
| Michael: when you're out with some Finnish friends. But what topics are taboo in Finnish anyway? |
| [Recall 1] |
| Michael: Let's take a closer look at the dialogue. |
| Do you remember how Karen Lee says "How much do you earn?" |
| (pause 4 seconds) |
| Päivi as Karen Lee: Kuinka paljon ansaitset? |
| [Recall 2] |
| Michael: Now, let's take a look at our second sentence. |
| Do you remember how Kati Koski says "It's none of your business…?" |
| (pause 4 seconds) |
| Päivi as Kati Koski: Se ei ei kuulu sinulle.. |
| Michael: When Karen asks Kati about how much she's earning, Kati replies in a rather uncomfortable, even offended tone. That's because in Finnish, money, or |
| Anni: raha |
| Michael: is not something you openly discuss with anyone. In general, Finnish people do not let their financial status show, and financial success or financial difficulties are often discussed only with the closest friends or family members. It's expected that people's salaries are a topic that should be kept between an individual and their employer. Aside from money, another topic that Finns consider taboo is religion, or |
| Anni: uskonto |
| Michael: As far as religion is concerned, there's not a lot for you to worry about when in Finland, as diversity in religion is growing in the country, and Finns in general are quite secular in their views. Even though the majority of Finns formally belong to the Evangelical-Lutheran Church, only some are actively practicing their religion. However, most Finns would appreciate it if you didn't discuss religion related issues with them, considering it's a topic most people feel uncomfortable talking about. Personal religious views are respected. |
| [Summary] |
| Michael: So far, you've learned about a couple of topics that you should avoid discussing with a Finnish person. If you're not sure whether a topic is taboo or not, it's better not to bring up the topic at all, or at least ask the person first whether they are comfortable talking about the subject or not. |
| Expansion/Contrast |
| Michael: Many conversation starters that don't sit well with most cultures are also unacceptable in Finnish. For instance, you can't just talk about politics, or |
| Anni: politiikka |
| Michael: with anyone, especially with a person you've just met. Related to politics, Finns really value their secret ballot, or |
| Anni: vaalisalaisuus |
| Michael: which means the voters' right to keep their vote in an election a secret. It's common for even family members or closest friends to hide who or which party they voted for in communal and national elections. |
| It goes without saying that most Finns are quite willing to talk about religion and politics, but you can't always predict how people would respond to such topics, so it's better to avoid them. |
| Michael: Speaking of which, another topic you should avoid during a conversation is telling racist or chauvinistic jokes. Finland is an egalitarian nation, or |
| Anni: tasa-arvoinen kansa |
| Michael: so any comment that might go against the idea that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities should be avoided. And, finally, open discussions about gender |
| Anni: sukupuoli |
| Michael: addiction, |
| Anni: riippuvuus |
| Michael: and love life, |
| Anni: rakkauselämä |
| Michael: should also be avoided when speaking with Finnish counterparts. |
| Cultural Insight/Expansion |
| Michael: When you're not sure of what to talk about with your Finnish friends, stick to safer topics of conversation, such as |
| Anni: kulttuuri |
| Michael: culture |
| Anni: taide |
| Michael: and the arts. Shared hobbies, or |
| Anni: harrastukset |
| Michael: are also good topics for conversations, and so are exchanges in opinion, or |
| Anni: mielipiteet. |
| Michael: Finns have a strong sense of identity and are very proud of their achievements as a people. That said, Finns would be happy if you knew something about their achievements, particularly in the fields of |
| Anni: urheilu |
| Michael: sports, and |
| Anni: musiikki |
| Michael: music. Do your best to stick to these topics if you want to be sure you're not stepping into taboo territory! |
Outro |
| Michael: Do you have any more questions? We're here to answer them! |
| Anni: Hei hei! |
| Michael: See you soon! |
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