I have hit a major block with Finnish. As if the grammar wasn't hard enough, there is just so much vocabulary to learn. Not only that, it all builds off each other so I can't just guess the meaning of a huge word if I don't know every little word in it. I've exhausted my Finnish textbooks and really need some help. What say you, /lang/? How do you deal with extremely difficult languages with not a lot of resources? And perhaps more importantly, does anyone have suggestions for Finnish textbooks/resources/etc?
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-06 15:30
Skip boring textbooks.
Look for real language material that interests you, read and listen to Finnish news.
You basically just need a book that explains the grammar, a dictionary + the internet for real use of the language.
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-06 18:52
Find a finnish friend
Textbooks rarely teach you how the language is actually spoken
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-06 20:18
If you haven't already, try to find a copy of "Suomen Kielen Alkeisoppikirja". It's all in Finnish but considering you already have a foundation in the language, you should be fine. As >>3 said, find a Finnish friend too...
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-07 2:16
Finnish isn't difficult, it's actually very systematic and logical. You just need subject matter that interests you. Talk to friends more and watch films, listen to music and have a good dictionary and grammar book on hand.
It's not hard at all once your interest is actually there.
What did you mean with "Not only that, it all builds off each other so I can't just guess the meaning of a huge word if I don't know every little word in it"?
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-08 8:19
vittu päivä aivan perse päivä !!!!!!!!
Koulussa hakkasin yhen pojan , ( pahoin pitely ) niin tyttö ystävä suuttu ja en eron partaala suhde.....
Mutsi laitto liittymän poikki koska lasku oli 100e
Säin erotuksen nyrkkeily surasta.....!!!!!!!
Ja MUN KITARA VIETIIN POIS JA MUTSI LÖI MUA MELKEIN ..... kerkesin väistää........ ooneks
ELÄMÄ ON VITTUJEN ELÄMÄ MUL ON HAKARISTI NÄYTÖLLÄ JA JULISTE KOTONA ......!!!!!!!!!
Linguaphone Finnish? Sheesh... I knew they had a more extensive collection with the older editions but I never expected Finnish. Great series, by the way.
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-09 8:26
>>12
Far as I know it's out of print, that's why it got shared I guess.
They have languages like Malay and Welsh. Not what you'd expect ever to be made because of lack of demand.
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-16 1:46
I gave up on Finnish. Simply couldn't do it... good luck, OP!
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-19 5:42
>>14
Oh no, don't!
It's not actually hard, just very very different to anything you have learned before. And it is almost impossible to learn without using it.
Try again :)
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-29 1:10
Swedish-speaking-Finnfag here. We had to take Finnish language classes in school. You Finnish-speaking-Finns have it easy. Swedish is a joke of a language. Learning Finnish is very, very difficult. When you don't have the right pronunciation you sound like retard to Finns. Not to mention the grammar is so difficult.
Name:
Anonymous2009-12-29 6:18
>>16
Finnish-speaking Finn here. You're right. I know several Finland Swedes who, despite spending their whole lives in Finland and being over 30 years old, still don't master the language. They do speak it fluently, but their grammar sucks, e.g. they often use the infinitive where another case should be used.