Comments on: Proof that Finnish is way harder than English

By: Hans

Hans — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:34:33 +0000

Learn Finnish. Here some links

Courses:
http://donnerwetter.kielikeskus.helsinki.fi/FinnishForForeigners/parts-index.htm
http://www.yle.fi/opinportti/supisuomea/

Discussion Forums:
http://www.finlandlive.info/finnish-language-course/
http://www.iesaf.fi/sauna/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=f027f7b41d49f2a6a5ea8d720229337f

By: May

May — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:03:32 +0000

Either way seems that Finland is the best country to live, I still am willing to go there.

By: Sirkuspelle

Sirkuspelle — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:29:56 +0000

The lack of the word “please” does make it harder. However, nowadays you can say “pliis”.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:49:49 +0000

Just becuase finnish does not have the word please its harder?

By: fistfightingliberace

fistfightingliberace — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:18:56 +0000

Only a failed comedian would leave a smiley at the end of a heckle.

By: Kekkuli

Kekkuli — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:56:48 +0000

Olkaa hyvä, valitkaa pöytänne. <- exactly the same and only one more word.

By: hfb

hfb — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:44:25 +0000

v.i.lenin…not entirely as the comma makes all the difference, e.g.

“Please free seating” (imperative voice indicating a hun will be along shortly to separate you from your chair)

vs.

“Please, free seating” (not sure the exact terminology but changes the ‘free’ from a verb to an adjective.)

By: v.i.lenin

v.i.lenin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:21:45 +0000

“Please, free seating” asks me to grab loiterers and malingerers and yank them out of their chairs so my group can sit down and generate revenue

By: hfb

hfb — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:05:06 +0000

Well…and nobody pointed out that the English is rather unbearably comic. Generally, in a restaurant (in the US) you will find one of two variations on this theme – 1) Please wait (for (a) hostesss) to be seated or 2) Please seat yourself. The former being /far/ and away the more common sign as seating yourself is generally assumed unless otherwise told or the context gives you doubt, e.g. nice restaurant with maître d’.

“Free seating” in English implies that the chairs are there for the taking It’s one of those situations where English shows the non-native speakers the depth of their skill and/or lack thereof since ‘free’ can be used in the same context, ala ‘take any free seat’, and while natives will know what you mean without stealing the chairs for the comic value of it, it wouldn’t be used as ‘Please, free seating.’

The Finnish in the same sign is rather formal mouthful of dots and double letters though.

By: sepisp

sepisp — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:05:12 +0000

The Finnish is more polite. Who would’ve guessed.

By: Olli

Olli — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:36:33 +0000

The content in the two sentences OBVIOUSLY isnt the same; the finnish one is a welcome, while the english sentence simply offers chairs free of charge for those in need.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:51:44 +0000

Perkele!!!

By: Andreas

Andreas — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:50:33 +0000

I am retarded. Shortbus IT Consultant lmao

By: Phil

Phil — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:16:42 +0000

Only a lazy twat who hasn’t bothered to actually study Finnish would conclude these mean the *exact* same thing.

Only a complete retard would not know I’m joking around.

By: Larjmarj

Larjmarj — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:22:46 +0000

I’ve tried to learn a few words a phrases..my pronunciation is fairly good. (I think).

Yay White Trash!!!! You know I wear my pajama bottoms to the grocery store