Phonological and Lexical Aspects of Colloquial Finnish [Reprint 2020 ed.] 9783112317594, 9783112306437

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PHONOLOGICAL AND LEXICAL ASPECTS OF COLLOQUIAL FINNISH

RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE LANGUAGE SCIENCES INDIANA UNIVERSITY Thomas A. Sebeok Chairman Andrew Vàzsonyi Associate Chairman, Publications

Phonological and Lexical Aspects of Colloquial Finnish by Melvin J. Luthy

Published by INDIANA UNIVERSITY, BLOOMINGTON

INDIANA UNIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS URALIC AND ALTAIC SERIES Editor: John R. Krueger Editor Emeritus: Thomas A. Sebeok Volume 119

Copyright © 1973 by Indiana University All rights reserved

ISBN 87750-173-4 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 619704 All orders from the United States of America and from Canada should be sent to Humanities Press, Inc., 450 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10016. Orders from all other countries should be sent to Co-libri, P.O. Box 482, The Hague 2076, The Netherlands. Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS PREFACE 0.

vii

INTRODUCTION

1

Part One—PHONOLOGY 1. 2. 3.

COLLOQUIAL AND STANDARD PHONOLOGICAL SIMILARITIES COLLOQUIAL AND LITERARY MORPHOPHONEMIC DIFFERENCES EXPRESSIVE PHONOLOGY IN COLLOQUIAL SPEECH

23

. . .

32 50

Part Two-THE LEXICON 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LEXICON NOUNS ADJECTIVES VERBS ADVERBS OTHER EXPRESSIONS AND EXCLAMATIONS

59 61 75 77 83 84

APPENDIX

87

BIBLIOGRAPHY

91

PREFACE T h i s study is an attempt to c a p t u r e for a b r i e f m o m e n t the m o s t s a l i e n t f e a t u r e s of the r a p i d l y changing c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h of H e l s i n k i , Finland, and to c o n t r a s t those f e a t u r e s with t h e i r c o r r e l a t e s in p r e s c r i b e d u s a g e . The o r i g i n a l study upon w h i c h t h i s w o r k i s b a s e d w a s submitted a s m y t h e s i s at Indiana U n i v e r s i t y in 1967. S i n c e that date additional s o u r c e s have been consulted and s e v e r a l m i n o r c h a n g e s h a v e b e e n m a d e , m o s t notably to i n c r e a s e the a c c u r a c y of the l e x i c o n . This s m a l l v o l u m e m a y be l i t t l e m o r e than a c u r i o s i t y to s o m e , but to o t h e r s s e r i o u s l y i n t e r e s t e d in l i n g u i s t i c change I hope it w i l l s e r v e a s a helpful r e f e r e n c e . I w i s h to thank P r o f e s s o r Alo Raun for h i s e n c o u r a g e m e n t , his e x t e n s i v e a s s i s t a n c e , and h i s kind s u g g e s t i o n s . To the d e g r e e that t h i s w o r k contains e r r o r s , I a m consoled by the f a c t that t h e r e would be m o r e w e r e it not f o r the k e e n e y e of this s c h o l a r w h o s e r i g o r I a d m i r e and hope to a c h i e v e . M e l v i n J . Luthy B r i g h a m Young U n i v e r s i t y

vii

PHONOLOGICAL AND LEXICAL ASPECTS OF COLLOQUIAL FINNISH

0.

INTRODUCTION

0. 0. E a r l y H i s t o r y W h e n o n e ' s c o n c e r n s a r e f o c u s e d upon t h e a s p e c t s of c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h , he m u s t , in a d d i t i o n t o m a k i n g s y n c h r o n i c o b s e r v a t i o n s , c o n s i d e r t h e h i s t o r i c a l , s o c i a l , and p o l i t i c a l e v e n t s w h i c h a f f e c t l a n g u a g e , i d e a s a b o u t l a n g u a g e , and u l t i m a t e l y d e f i n e l i t e r a r i n e s s and c o l l o q u i a l n e s s . In t h e c a s e of F i n n i s h , w e a r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h a l a n g u a g e s p o k e n b y o v e r 4 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e who t r a c e t h e i r l i n g u i s t i c h e r i t a g e t o a n e a r l i e r u n i t y w i t h t h e V o l g a i c - P e r m i c - U g r i c l a n g u a g e s and t h e n , w i t h t h e i n c l u s i o n of S a m o y e d i c , t o a n e a r l i e r g e n e s i s in t h e U r a l mountain r e g i o n . We have linguistic evidence that the P r o t o - F i n n s h a d a r r i v e d on t h e B a l t i c c o a s t a s e a r l y a s 5 0 0 B . C . 1 However, t h e b r e a k i n g up of P r o t o - F i n n i c into s e p a r a t e l a n g u a g e s p r o b a b l y did n o t b e g i n u n t i l t h e f i r s t c e n t u r i e s A . D. , b u t c o n t i n u e d down t h r o u g h t h e f i r s t m i l l e n n i u m . 2 S e p a r a t e m i g r a t i o n s and s u b s e q u e n t m e e t i n g s of c l o s e l y r e l a t e d F i n n s r e s u l t e d in a v a r i e t y of d i a l e c t s and a s i g n i f i c a n t e a s t - w e s t d i a l e c t d i v i s i o n in p r e s e n t - d a y F i n l a n d . 3 T h e geographic a r e a occupied by the e a r l y F i n n s was under the r u l e of S w e d e n u n t i l 1 8 0 9 . F r o m t h e n u n t i l 1917, R u s s i a m a i n t a i n e d p o l i t i c a l c o n t r o l , and f r o m 1918 to t h e p r e s e n t , F i n l a n d h a s b e e n p o l i t i c a l l y i n d e p e n d e n t . 4 T h e y e a r s of S w e d i s h c o n t r o l of g o v e r n m e n t , c o m m e r c e and e d u c a t i o n w e r e t i m e s of g r e a t p r e s t i g e f o r t h e S w e d i s h l a n g u a g e , t h e n the h a l l m a r k of e d u c a t i o n and s o c i a l s t a n d i n g . 5 A s i s t h e c a s e w i t h a n y p r e s t i g e d i a l e c t o r l a n g u a g e in c l o s e c o n t a c t w i t h s y s t e m s of l e s s s o c i a l i m p o r t a n c e , S w e d i s h w o r d s and i d i o m s f l o w e d e a s i l y i n t o s p o k e n F i n n i s h ; t h e r e w a s no p r e s c r i p t i v e d i c t u m to k e e p the language " p u r e . " Not u n t i l t h e p e r i o d of t h e R e f o r m a t i o n did F i n n i s h b e g i n to show s i g n s of d i g n i f i e d s u r v i v a l . T h e c h a n g i n g of r e l i g i o u s s e r v i c e s to t h e l a n g u a g e of t h e p e o p l e n e c e s s i t a t e d r e l i g i o u s l i t e r a t u r e in t h e h e r e t o f o r e unwritten language. M i k a e l A g r i c o l a (1510-1557) is c r e d i t e d with s u p p l y i n g t h e f i r s t o r t h o g r a p h y f o r F i n n i s h , and f o r p u b l i s h i n g h i s A B C K i r j a in 1 5 4 3 , S e W s i T e s t a m e n t t i in 1 5 4 8 , and a few o t h e r w o r k s in 1 5 4 9 . T h e r e s u l t of A g r i c o l a 1 s w o r k w a s t h e f o u n d a t i o n of a l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e b a s e d g e n e r a l l y on t h e o r a l t r a d i t i o n s of t h e w e s t e r n d i a l e c t s , and m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y on t h e d i a l e c t o f t h e r e g i o n a r o u n d P e r n a j a , A g r i c o l a ' s h o m e town. After this rapid beginning, F i n n i s h r e m a i n e d i

2

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l

Finnish

t h e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l l a n g u a g e of t h e p e o p l e f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e S w e d i s h e r a , while Swedish and L a t i n continued a s the a c a d e m i c and p r e s t i g e languages.

0. 1 P r e s t i g e ,

N a t i o n a l i s m and

Purism

A t t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , F i n n i s h h a d r i s e n t o higher social status than ever b e f o r e and w a s being u s e d m o r e and m o r e o u t s i d e the c h u r c h e s . A s d e m a n d s i n c r e a s e d on its u s e , the w e s t e r n d i a l e c t b a s e u p o n w h i c h it h a d b e e n w r i t t e n f e l l u n d e r a t t a c k f o r not a c c u r a t e l y r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e " r e a l " l a n g u a g e of t h e F i n n s . T h e m a j o r i n i t i a l a t t a c k c a m e in 1820 f r o m R e i n h o l d v . B e c k e r (1788-1858) w h e n h e p u b l i s h e d a c r i t i c a l e s s a y o n t h e n o n - F i n n i s h t r e n d s of t h e d a y . The following is a quotation f r o m his essay:

Suomen kielelle suureks vahingoks kirjotettiin e n s i m m S i s e t s u o m a l a i s e t k i r j a t tSllS k e h n o m m a l l a R a n t a - S u o m a l a i s t e n kielellS, johon pSSlle pSStteeks tungettiin Ruotsista ja Latinasta liikoja puukstavia, jotka sokasivat meiSn selkeSn k i e l e m m e . Ja vaikka nSitS k i r j o j a sitten, E s i v a l l a n kSskein, johonkuhun m S S r S S n m u r t e i s t a p u h i s t e t t i i n , niin jSi v i e l S p a l j o n parantamata. Moni on sen jSlkeen nSitS k i r j o j a s e u r a t e n , k i r j o t t a n u t S u o m e a s a m a l l a tavalla, ja tottunut ei a i n o a s t a a n k i r j o t t a m a a n ja l u k e m a a n toisin, kuin selvSt suomalaiset puhuuvat, mutta m y S s k i n u s k o m a a n e t t a k i r j o i s s a 18ytyy k a i k k i i n s e l v i n kieli. Jokainen y m m S r t S a kuitenkin ettei kielen synty ole k i r j o i s t a , m u t k i r j o i n synty kielestS, ja etta sentShen k i r j a t pitSS k i e l e n jSlkeen k o r j a t t a m a a n , ei kieli kirjoin jSlkeen. 7

M a n y s c h o l a r s , i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e z e a l of B e c k e r , f e l t t h a t t h e l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e s h o u l d b e p u r g e d of a l l S w e d i s h i n f l u e n c e a n d b e b a s e d on the e a s t e r n d i a l e c t s . A s linguistic a w a r e n e s s and n a t i o n a l i s t i c f e e l i n g g r e w , t h e r e e n s u e d a p e r i o d of g r e a t u n r e s t o v e r t h e u s e of e a s t e r n o r w e s t e r n d i a l e c t f o r m s f o r t h e l i t e r a r y s t a n d a r d . T h i s period has been called "Murteiden taistelun aika, " or " T h e e r a of t h e b a t t l e of t h e d i a l e c t s . " 8

Introduction I n t h e m i d d l e of t h i s c o n c e r n , t h e S u o m a l a i s e n K i r j a l l i s u u d e n S e u r a , " T h e F i n n i s h L i t e r a r y S o c i e t y , " w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1831, a n d i t s m e m b e r s v i g o r o u s l y p u r s u e d t h e p u b l i s h i n g of F i n n i s h l i t e r a t u r e . E l i a s L S n n r o t , o n e of t h e m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g f i g u r e s of t h e t i m e , w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c o l l e c t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t q u a n t i t i e s of f o l k p o e t r y f r o m t h e e a s t , w h i c h q u i c k l y g a v e t h e F i n n s a literary heritage. As the dialect battle continued, LSnnrot accepted a n attitude held by G. R e n v a l l that the l i t e r a r y language s h o u l d c o n t i n u e to b e d e v e l o p e d in t h e t r a d i t i o n a l m a n n e r , but t h a t e a s t e r n d i a l e c t f o r m s should be a c c e p t e d w h e n t h e y e n h a n c e d literary expression. T h e polemics gradually subsided after L O n n r o t ' s p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e K a l e v a l a (183 5, 1849) a n d t h e K a n t e l e t a r (1840), w h i c h h e l p e d to g i v e s t a b i l i t y t o a l i t e r a r y s t a n d a r d s t r o n g l y i n f l u e n c e d by t h e e a s t e r n d i a l e c t s . 9 T h i s e r a m a r k e d t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s r i s e of p r e s c r i p t i v e g r a m m a r and F i n n i s h nationalism. Although R u s s i a w a s to c o n t r o l F i n l a n d p o l i t i c a l l y f o r t h e n e x t c e n t u r y (1809-1917) , t h e R u s s i a n linguistic i n f l u e n c e w a s negligible c o m p a r e d to the p r e v i o u s a n d c o n t i n u i n g i n f l u e n c e of S w e d i d i . H o w e v e r , a s a c o n s e q u e n c e of g r o w i n g p u r i s t i c m o t i o n s , t h e l a n g u a g e w a s n o w b e i n g p u r g e d of t h e S w e d i c i s m s w h i c h h a d f o u n d a w e l c o m e h o m e e a r l i e r . E d u c a t o r s b e c a m e d e e p l y i n v o l v e d in l a n g u a g e r e f o r m , a c c e p t i n g as l i t e r a r y f o r m s only w o r d s which w e r e c l e a r l y F i n n i s h , or which w e r e v e r y w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d l o a n s in c u l t u r a l d o m a i n s in w h i c h F i n n i s h h a d n o e q u i v a l e n t s . B u t , e v e n i n t h e c a s e of a c c e p t e d l o a n s , t h e r e w a s u n r e s t . M u c h of t h e c o n c e r n c e n t e r e d a r o u n d the p r o p e r F i n n i c i z e d spelling, and, in m a n y c a s e s , t h e r e w e r e a t t e m p t s to r e p l a c e the loans with F i n n i s h innovations as soon as possible.10 It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t n e i t h e r t h i s a t t i t u d e n o r t h i s sociolinguistic situation has changed radically over the past one h u n d r e d a n d t h i r t y y e a r s . R e n v a l l ' s c o m m e n t i n 1840 i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o h i s F i n n i s h g r a m m a r c o u l d w e l l b e t h e l a m e n t of a m o d e r n F i n n i s h g r a m m a r i a n about the c o n t e m p o r a r y colloquial s p e e c h of H e l s i n k i .

ErXissS kaupungeissa ja monin paikoin maaseuduillakin on kieli s e l l a i s t a m o n g e r r u s t a , ettS se ei ole r u o t s i a eika s u o m e a v a a n k u m m a n k i n sSSnnOtSnta s e k o i t u s t a , s e k a m e l s k a a , joka selvSsti osoittaa kuinka viheliSiseksi kieli voi tulla, kun sitS h a r k i t s e m a t t a m u o v a i l l a a n e r i l a i s i s t a aineksista, joko k a h d e s t a e r i kielestS tai kahta erillSSn olevaa m u r r e t t a toisiinsa sekoittamalla. . . Mika. . . siansaksa keskustelukielenS. . . . 1 1

3

4

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l

Finnish

L a t e r , i n 1 9 2 6 , K n u t C a n n e l i n , s p e a k i n g of S w e d i s h i d i o m s w h i c h h a v e b e e n t r a n s l a t e d d i r e c t l y into F i n n i s h , had the following to say:

EttS tSllaiset ruotsinvoittoiset sanonnat, joita k o r v a a m a a n t S y s i n o m a p e r S i s i a on o l e m a s s a , eivSt ole k i e l e l l e m m e eduksi, lienee mySnnettSvS. Se, joka ei ole selvillS siita, ettS tSssS v i e r a a n kielen v a i k u t u s on k y s e e s s S , hSn kun ei ole tuohon v i e r a a s e e n kieleen perehtynyt, ei v a r m a a n k a a n noista m u u k a l a i s u u k sista ollenkaan pahastu; ja j u u r i tSmS seikka aiheuttaa sen, ettS ne niin r a u h a s s a saavat k i e l e s s a sSilyS. Mutta t S m 3 ei oikeuta m e i t S pitSmSSn niitS h y v S n S m m e , mikSli niitS tekemSttS kieltfimme sanontakeinoista k B y h e m m S k s i v o i d a a n vSlttSS.12

C a n n e l i n w a s s p e a k i n g of s u c h e x p r e s s i o n s a s o p p i a t u n t e m a a n , " l e a r n to k n o w , " k a n t a a h e d e l m i S , " t o b e a r f r u i t , " and se on totta, "it is t r u e . " T h e s e e x p r e s s i o n s , according to Cannelin, would be r e n d e r e d m o r e F i n n i s h - l i k e , as tulla t u n t e m a a n , " c o m e to know, " k a s v a a hedelmiS, "to grow fruit, " and aivan oikein, "quite right. " W i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of t h e a c c e p t a n c e of s o m e i n t e r n a t i o n a l loans, the fight against n o n - F i n n i s h w o r d s and e x p r e s s i o n s continues today. T h e Kielivartio, lit. " L a n g u a g e guard, " a p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e S u o m a l a i s e n K i r j a l l i s u u d e n S e u r a c o n t a i n i n g t h e t e x t s of p r e s c r i p t i v e l a n g u a g e d i s c u s s i o n s o n F i n n i s h r a d i o , g i v e s g o o d e x a m p l e s of t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y o f f i c i a l l i n g u i s t i c attitude.

V i e r a s alkuperS ei sinSnsS ole pahasta. MikSSn kieli ei tule t o i m e e n tSysin o m i l l a a n . J o k a i s e n on tSytynyt oppia muilta, eikS oppi ole tSssSkSSn ojaan kaatanut. P u r i s m i siinS m i e l e s s S , ettS kielestS olisi k a r k o i t e t t a v a kaikki, m i k S ei t a a t u s t i ole alun alkaen o m a a , j o h t a i s i m a h d o t t o m u u k s i i n ; s e l l a i n e n ei s a a olla ihanne. Se kOyhdyttSisi kieltS ja tukahduttaisi sen henkeS. E r i k o i s t i e t e e t eiv3t m i s s S S n tule t o i m e e n ilman kansainvalistS oppisanastoaan. Mutta silti oli paikallaan, ettS kaikkien t a r v i t s e m a "telefoni" vaihdettiin "puhelimeen, " "telegrafi, " "lennSttimeen, " ja " t r a n s f o r m a a t t o r i , " " m u u n t a j a a n , " tai ettS

5

Introduction " t a l r i k i n " ja " soppaskoolin" syrjSyttivSt "lautanen" ja "liemikulho." O i k e i n t a p u h d a s k i e l i s y y s on s i l l o i n , k u n s e puolustaa aitoja ilmaisukeinoja, kotoisia kelpo sanoja, lausemuotoja ja kielikuvia, joita tarpeettomat, jopa kielen peruspiirustuksiin soveltumattomat tungeksijat yrittSvSt syrjSyttaS. . . AlkSSn sanottako "kiitos paljon, " vaan "paljon kiitoksia, " Slk88n " e n tiedS josko tulen, " vaan " e n tiedS tulenko". . . puhdaskielisyys kunniaan.13

T h e a b o v e p a r a g r a p h s a r e i n d i c a t i v e of t h e h i s t o r i c a l and c o n t e m p o r a r y attitudes towards foreign influence. Accordingly, t r a n s l a t i o n l o a n s a r e t a b o o , and t h o s e w o r d s f o r w h i c h F i n n i s h a l r e a d y has equivalents a r e unacceptable. Many foreign t e r m s without c l e a r F i n n i s h equivalents a r e a c c e p t e d , F i n n i c i z e d ( s o m e t i m e s o n l y in p a r t ) , and v e r y p o s s i b l y r e p l a c e d b y s u b sequent innovations. 0. 2

Stability

T h e a c a d e m i s m mentioned above h a s b e e n s u c c e s s f u l , w i t h the u s e of g r a m m a r s , d i c t i o n a r i e s , r a d i o b r o a d c a s t s , and s p e c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n s , in s t a n d a r d i z i n g s p e l l i n g , p r o n u n c i a t i o n , and in c r e a t i n g a v e r y c o n s c i o u s p u r i s t i c a w a r e n e s s . S u c c e s s h a s not b e e n d i f f i c u l t w i t h n a t i o n a l p r i d e so c l o s e l y a t t a c h e d to l a n g u a g e . Viewed objectively, the attitudes s o m e t i m e s appear inconsistent and c o n t r a d i c t o r y , but t h i s i s h a r d l y u n i q u e to t h e F i n n i s h l i n g u i s t i c scene. R e g a r d i n g t h e i n t e r a c t i o n o f c o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h ( C F ) and s t a n d a r d F i n n i s h ( S F ) , t h e e f f e c t s s e e m to b e a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y u n i d i r e c t i o n a l . T h a t i s , C F p h e n o m e n a r a r e l y find t h e i r w a y into S F , w h e r e a s C F r e a d i l y m o d i f i e s t h e f o r m a n d / o r m e a n i n g o f S F w o r d s and e x p r e s s i o n s and u s e s t h e m f r e e l y . O n c e a g a i n s o c i a l p r e s t i g e i s t h e d o m i n a n t f a c t o r . It i s p e r m i s s i b l e f o r t h e l o w e r l e v e l s to t a k e f r o m t h e h i g h e r , but s e l d o m d o e s t h e o p p o s i t e o c c u r . T h i s , a l o n g w i t h t h e e x p r e s s i v e and n o v e l f e a t u r e s of c o l l o q u i a l u t t e r a n c e s , c o n t r i b u t e s to t h e g e n e r a l i n s t a b i l i t y of the c o l l o q u i a l l e x i c o n . B e f o r e t h e a d v e n t of p r e s c r i p t i v e g r a m m a r and d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n l i t e r a r y and c o l l o q u i a l f o r m s , h o w e v e r , m a n y w o r d s w e r e b o r r o w e d and r e m a i n e d to b e c o m e S F . In t h i s s e n s e , t h e p u r i s t i c ideal which shuns f o r e i g n influence today is c l e a r l y a v e r y r e c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t . S o m e g r a m m a r i a n s w i l l p e r h a p s c l a i m that the f o r e i g n

6

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h

e l e m e n t s in S F a r e j u s t l y p r e s e n t b e c a u s e t h e r e w e r e no e q u i v a l e n t s in F i n n i s h at the t i m e the c o n c e p t s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d . A l t h o u g h t h i s i s the c a s e in s o m e o c c u p a t i o n s and d i s c i p l i n e s , a b r i e f e x a m i n a t i o n of the e a r l y l o a n s f r o m S w e d i s h c a s t s c o n s i d e r a b l e doubt on s u c h a p r o p o s i t i o n . B e l o w i s a g r o u p of F i n n i c i z e d e a r l y S w e d i s h l o a n s w h i c h a r e u n a n i m o u s l y a c c e p t e d a s S F . It i s o b v i o u s that e a r l y F i n n i s h did not l a c k a l l of t h e s e t e r m s .

•edish s o u r c e afton aliamo sa herre hov kam gata kSlke kSpp skola greve kopp skjuts lakan lek lSger klackare kloster bly makt mSrke panna pipa spole b5s sa fru sai sjSl socka synd sSng talg tegel stol

Standard Finnish aatto almu herra hovi kampa katu kelkka keppi koulu kreivi kuppi kyyti lakana leikki leiri lukkari luo s t a r i lyijy mahti merkki pannu piippu puola py s s y rouva sali sielu sukka synti sanky tali tiili tuoli

Gloss eve alms lord, M r . court comb street sledge stick school count ( n . ) cup r i d e (n. ) sheet (linen) game camp chorister monastery lead(carbon) power, might mark pan pipe spool gun lady, M r s . hall soul sock sin bed tallow brick, tile chair

7

Introduction sty eke offer

tykki uhri

ugn fang fat vagn fSrg 8rt

uuni vanki vati vaunu vSri yrtti

cannon sacrifice, offering, victim oven prisoner bowl wagon color herb 14

E i t h e r no a t t e m p t w a s m a d e t o r e m o v e t h e s e p a r t i c u l a r l o a n s o r it f a i l e d . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , m a n y l o a n s h a v e b e e n c l e a r l y r e p l a c e d by either existing F i n n i s h w o r d s with s i m i l a r m e a n i n g s ( n e o l o g i s m s ) , or b y d e r i v a t i o n a l i n n o v a t i o n s . In s o m e c a s e s ( a s t e r i s k e d ) b o t h t h e l o a n a n d the subsequent F i n n i s h r e p l a c e m e n t e x i s t a s a l t e r n a t e s . Swedish source

Finnicized loan

Finnish rep lacement huutokauppa keittiO puku, pukine nahkuri onni muste silava kone puuhka puuseppâ vene kirje kirjain

auktion k8k klSnning garvare lycka black flSsk m a skin muff

avi sioni kySkki leninki karvari, lykky lakki laski masina muhvi

snickare bat brev bokstav

nikkari paatti preivi puu s t a v i

pais penna ram roder krydda ranta

palssi panna raami routeli ryyti rantty

turkki kynâ kehy s perâsin mauste korko

skraddare skrivare

raataii ( s) k r i i v a r i

vaatturi kirjuri

segel skarm

seili sarmi

pur je varjostin

karvali

Gloss auction kitchen dress* tanner luck* ink pork fat* machine fur muff* carpenter* boat letter letter (symbol) fur coat pen frame rudder spice interest (financial) tailor* clerical secretary sail lamp shade

8

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h timmerman station student

timpermanni tatsoona tutentti

kirvesmies asema ylioppilas

vers

värssy

säkeistö

woodsman station student ( u n i v e r sity) verse*14

0. 3 S t a n d a r d a n d C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h

W h i l e a c o n s t a n t w a t c h i s k e p t t o g u a r d a g a i n s t t h e i n v a s i o n of f o r e i g n i s m s , an equally diligent vigil is kept to i n s u r e the " c o r r e c t " u s a g e of w h a t i s i n h e r e n t l y F i n n i s h . A s w o r k o n t h e s e f r o n t s h a s p r o c e e d e d , and p r i d e in F i n n i s h h a s g r o w n , a d i s t i n c t i o n h a s b e e n m a d e between " k i r j a k i e l i " and "puhekieli, " l i t e r a l l y "book language" and " s p e e c h l a n g u a g e . " " K i r j a k i e l i " r e f e r s , in a g e n e r a l s e n s e , to t h e p r e s c r i b e d s p e e c h of t h e e n l i g h t e n e d c i t i z e n r y , b u t in a m o r e s p e c i f i c s e n s e , t o t h e p r e s c r i b e d w r i t t e n u s a g e of t h e l a n g u a g e w h i c h m a y n e v e r o c c u r in a c t u a l speech. M o r e c o m m o n l y , t h e f o r m e r would be t e r m e d "yleiskieli, " or "standard language." I n c l u d e d i n t h e g e n e r a l d e f i n i t i o n of " k i r j a k i e l i " i s a l a r g e n u m b e r of p r e s t i g e l o a n s f r o m v a r i o u s o c c u p a t i o n s a n d a c a d e m i c d i s c i p l i n e s w h i c h h a v e not b e e n t o t a l l y F i n n i c i z e d o r r e p l a c e d . On the c o n t r a r y , s t u d e n t s a r e c a r e f u l l y i n s t r u c t e d in t h e p r o n u n c i a t i o n of f o r e i g n p h o n e s for particular words. It w o u l d s e e m t h a t t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o t i v a t i o n f o r u s i n g a c c e p t a b l e f o r e i g n p r o n u n c i a t i o n s o n t h e l i t e r a r y l e v e l i s not t o o d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t m o t i v a t i n g t h e t e e n a g e r to u s e u n a c c e p t a b l e f o r e i g n p r o n u n c i a t i o n s w i t h h i s p e e r s on the s l a n g l e v e l . N e i t h e r is being F i n n i s h ; both a r e using foreignisms for effect. Martti Rapola, a contemporary Finnish linguist, defines "kirjakieli": Mutta v a s t a siitS, m i s s S k i r j o i t t a m a l l a on ruvettu puhetta orjallisesti noudattavan lisSksi esittSmSSn muitakin, nim. sellaisia suppeita tai laajojakin ilmauksia, jotka ovat kieltS o l e m a t t a ensin puhetta, vielSpS tietyllS tavalla voivat poiketa puhekielen perinnXisista aineksista ja rakenteista, alkaa k i r j a k i e l i sanan v a r s i n a i s e s s a merkityksissS. Voitaisiin my8s sanoa, ettS v a s t a k i r j a l l i s u u d e n k i r j o i t t a m i s e n yhteydessS syntyneiden tai kirjoitenttuina sSilyvien hengentuotteiden k i e l i on k i r j a k i e l t S . E l l e i sanonta kSvisi m a h d o l l i s e s t i ristiriitaiseksi, voitaisiin my8s muistinvaraisten

Introduction

9

kansanrunousluomusten kieli samoin kuin etevien kansankerto jain sanelun mukaan muistiin merkitty lukea erSSksi kirjakielen lajiksi. Toisaalta kirjakielellS on aina h e i j a s t e e n s a puhekielessS. KirjakieltS r u n s a a s t i viljelleen yhteisOnosan puhekieli, "sivistynyt puhekieli," eli y l e i s k i e l i on t a v a n o m a i s e n kielenkSytSn m u k a a n sekin kirjakieltS.15

" P u h e k i e l i , " not " s i v i s t y n y t p u h e k i e l i , " is t h e t e r m g e n e r a l l y u s e d to d e s c r i b e t h e e v e r y d a y s p o k e n l a n g u a g e of t h e p e o p l e t h a t d e v i a t e s f r o m the l i t e r a r y prescriptive rules. L e o n a r d B l o o m f i e l d l i s t s f i v e m a i n t y p e s of s p e e c h i n a c o m p l e x s p e e c h c o m m u n i t y : (1) " l i t e r a r y s t a n d a r d , " u s e d i n f o r m a l d i s c o u r s e a n d i n w r i t i n g ; ( 2 ) " c o l l o q u i a l s t a n d a r d , " t h e s p e e c h of t h e p r i v i l e g e d c l a s s ; (3) " p r o v i n c i a l s t a n d a r d , " e s s e n t i a l l y t h e s a m e a s (2) , b u t d i f f e r i n g s l i g h t l y f r o m r e g i o n t o r e g i o n ; (4) " s u b s t a n d a r d , " s p o k e n b y t h e l o w e r m i d d l e c l a s s e s i n E u r o p e a n d d i f f e r i n g c l e a r l y f r o m (1) , (2) , a n d ( 3 ) ; a n d (5) " l o c a l d i a l e c t , " d i f f e r i n g f r o m v i l l a g e to v i l l a g e w i t h v a r i e t i e s so g r e a t a s o f t e n to be m u t u a l l y u n i n t e l l i g i b l e . 1 6 T h e F i n n i s h c o n c e p t of " k i r j a k i e l i " i s s y n o n o m o u s w i t h B l o o m f i e l d ' s " l i t e r a r y standard (1)"; "yleiskieli" c o r r e s p o n d s to "colloquial standard a n d p r o v i n c i a l s t a n d a r d (2) a n d ( 3 ) , " ( t o t h e d e g r e e t h a t t h e y d o n o t v i o l a t e t h e r u l e s of [l]) , a n d " p u h e k i e l i " t o " s u b s t a n d a r d " a n d " l o c a l d i a l e c t " (4) a n d (5) . T h i s text is c o n c e r n e d with deviations f r o m the p r e s c r i p t i v e phonological and lexical selection r u l e s which the " l i t e r a r y standard" i m p o s e s on t h e l a n g u a g e . " Y l e i s k i e l i , " i . e . (2) and (3) , d o e s not violate the phonological or lexical r u l e s , and will t h e r e f o r e be c o n s i d e r e d , along with " k i r j a k i e l i , " to be " s t a n d a r d F i n n i s h . " T h e t e r m " c o l l o q u i a l " w i l l t h e r e f o r e r e f e r t o (4) a n d (5) w h i c h do c o n t a i n v i o l a t i o n s of t h e p r e s c r i p t i v e r u l e s . T h i s i s n o t t o i m p l y t h a t t h e r e a r e n o d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n (1) , a n d (2) a n d ( 3 ) , b u t t h e d i f f e r e n c e s a r e i n s y n t a c t i c c o m p l e x i t y and l e x i c a l p r e f e r e n c e . T h e l o c a l d i a l e c t in q u e s t i o n is t h a t s p o k e n in m e t r o p o l i t a n H e l s i n k i . A c c o r d i n g l y , if w e a c c e p t a s s t a n d a r d o n l y t h a t w h i c h d o e s n o t violate the c o n s t r a i n t s alluded to above, we a r e left with h u n d r e d s of w o r d s a n d e x p r e s s i o n s , l e x i c a l i n n o v a t i o n s , s e m a n t i c s h i f t s , a n d m o r p h o p h o n e m i c d e v i a t i o n s w h i c h m u s t be a s s i g n e d to the n o n s t a n d a r d or colloquial dialect. 0. 4

Other C o n t e m p o r a r y Study

Although c o n s i d e r a b l e c o n c e r n h a s been shown about the o c c u r r e n c e of f o r e i g n l e x i c a l i t e m s a n d i d i o m s , r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e h a s b e e n d o n e i n a

10

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h

f o r m a l w a y to study the o t h e r p h e n o m e n a . T h i s m a y b e d u e in p a r t to the p r e v a i l i n g p r e s c r i p t i v e a t t i t u d e , and in p a r t to the d o m i n a t i n g i n t e r e s t of F i n n i s h l i n g u i s t s in o t h e r c o m p a r a t i v e and h i s t o r i c a l s t u d i e s . F i n n s who h a v e b e c o m e i n t e r e s t e d in n o n s t a n d a r d s p o k e n l a n g u a g e h a v e g a t h e r e d i m p r e s s i v e l e x i c o n s of d e v i a n t w o r d s and i d i o m s i n c l u d i n g p r o b a b l e e t y m o l o g i e s . T h e m o s t i m p r e s s i v e r e c e n t w o r k on H e l s i n k i s l a n g i s P e n t t i L i u t t u ' s H e l s i n g i n s l a n g i n k e s k e i s t a s a n a s t o a (1951) . 1 7 Liuttu's w o r k w a s c o m p l e t e d t h i r t e e n y e a r s b e f o r e t h i s s t u d y b e g a n . S i n c e it i s g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d that s l a n g i s the m o s t u n s t a b l e p o r t i o n of l a n g u a g e , a b r i e f c o m p u t a t i o n w a s m a d e to s e e what p e r c e n t a g e of the 1964 l e x i c o n w a s e x t a n t in 1951. A c c o r d i n g t o the d a t a g a t h e r e d 36 p e r c e n t of p r e s e n t day s l a n g t e r m i n o l o g y w a s in u s e in 1951. T w o o t h e r s t u d i e s on the s l a n g of the c i t i e s h a v e f o l l o w e d L i u t t u ' s : M a t t i S u o j a n e n ' s T u r u n o p p i k o u l u l a i s t e n s l a n g i s a n a s t o a (1963) and S i r k k a - L i i s a Hahmo's T a m p e r e e n oppikoululaisten slangisanastoa (1967) . 1 9 A l l of t h e s e s t u d i e s c o n t a i n e x c e l l e n t d i s c u s s i o n s on t h e d y n a m i c s of s l a n g and t h o r o u g h l e x i c o n s w i t h e t y m o l o g i e s . A f o u r t h w o r k , S i m o H X m S l S i n e n ' s S u o m e n s o t i l a s s l a n g i (1963) , a d d s a n o t h e r d i m e n s i o n to the s t u d y . 2 0 H a m a l a i n e n ' s w o r k c o n t a i n s m i l i t a r y s l a n g e x p r e s s i o n s g a t h e r e d o v e r a p e r i o d of y e a r s . It a p p e a r s in d i c t i o n a r y f o r m a t and i n c l u d e s m e a n i n g s a n d p l a c e s of o c c u r r e n c e . E a c h of the w o r k s c i t e d a b o v e h a s b e e n h e l p f u l in p r e p a r i n g t h i s t e x t , p a r t i c u l a r l y in c o m p a r i n g q u e s t i o n a b l e e t y m o l o g i c a l c o n c l u s i o n s . L i k e the f o r e g o i n g , t h i s w o r k i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h the l e x i c o n of s l a n g , not s o m u c h a s a s e p a r a t e entity, h o w e v e r , but a s a p a r t of the c o n t i n u u m of c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h . Not only w i l l the o c c u r r e n c e of s l a n g b e n o t e d , but the c o l l o q u i a l p h o n o l o g i c a l and m o r p h o p h o n e m i c a s p e c t s w i l l a l s o b e discussed. 0. 5 T h e S p e a k e r s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h It s h o u l d b e k e p t i n m i n d that p r o b a b l y no one c o n s i s t e n t l y s p e a k s e i t h e r the c o l l o q u i a l o r s t a n d a r d d i a l e c t . R a t h e r , e a c h p e r s o n ' s s p e e c h c o n t a i n s v a r y i n g q u a n t i t i e s of s t a n d a r d i n f l e c t i o n s , m o r p h e m e s , and pronunciations i n t e r s p e r s e d with nonstandard o n e s . The s a m e word, e x p r e s s i o n , o r p r o n u n c i a t i o n p r o d u c e d in a n a c a d e m i c a l l y a c c e p t a b l e m a n n e r in one i n s t a n c e m a y t a k e a v a r i a n t c o l l o q u i a l f o r m in t h e n e x t . C l e a r l y , m a n y n o n l i n g u i s t i c f a c t o r s a r e i n v o l v e d in t h e s e s e l e c t i o n s , f o r e x a m p l e , the s p e a k e r ' s g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n , h i s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d h i s a u d i e n c e , and the r e s u l t he d e s i r e s to o b t a i n . It s e e m s m u c h m o r e d i f f i c u l t to m a k e s h a r p d i v i s i o n s b e t w e e n s p e a k e r s of t h e s e s o c i a l d i a l e c t s than b e t w e e n t h e s p e a k e r s of r e g i o n a l o n e s . In the f o r m e r , t h e r e e x i s t s a kind of i n t e r d i a l e c t a l v a r i a t i o n in the i d i o l e c t t h a t i s

Introduction

11

not p r e s e n t in the l a t t e r . W h i l e it i s e r r o n e o u s to s a y that c o l l o q u i a l f o r m s a r e u s e d only by one s o c i a l c l a s s o r a g e g r o u p , it i s e q u a l l y i n v a l i d to c l a i m t h a t a l l c o l l o q u i a l f o r m s a r e u s e d by a l l s p e a k e r s . A m o r e a c c u r a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n w o u l d i d e n t i f y the c o l l o q u i a l v a r i a n t s a n d i n d i c a t e t h e i r d e n s i t y in p a r t i c u l a r s o c i a l s t r a t a . T h i s s t u d y h a s s h o w n that the t y p e of c o l l o q u i a l e x p r e s s i o n o n e w i l l a l l o w h i m s e l f i s l a r g e l y d e t e r m i n e d by the d e g r e e of h i s f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n , in o t h e r w o r d s , by the d e g r e e of e x p o s u r e h e h a s h a d t o p r e s c r i p t i v e g r a m m a r . S e x and a g e do not s e e m to b e v e r y s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r s in d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r o r not a p e r s o n w i l l u s e v a r i e t i e s of c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h , w i t h the e x c e p t i o n that f e m a l e s m a y t e n d to a v o i d l e x i c a l i t e m s w h i c h h a v e the s t a m p of m a s c u l i n i t y ; but e v e n t h i s i s not a fast rule. T e e n a g e r s , and a d u l t s w i t h l i t t l e o r no h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , a r e the m o s t u n i n h i b i t e d s p e a k e r s . It i s they who e m p h a s i z e the n o n l i t e r a r y l e x i c o n . A l t h o u g h the o c c u r r e n c e of t h e s e m o r p h e m e s d e c r e a s e s s h a r p l y w i t h e d u c a t i o n , the c o l l o q u i a l p h o n o l o g i c a l f e a t u r e s a r e not s o e a s i l y r e m o v e d . T h e s e a r e the f e a t u r e s w h i c h c r e e p out d u r i n g r e l a x e d o r u n g u a r d e d m o m e n t s of e v e n the m o r e p r i v i l e g e d . L e t it b e e m p h a s i z e d that what i s c o n t r a s t e d h e r e i s c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h a s o p p o s e d to the p r e s c r i b e d s t a n d a r d . T h e s t a n d a r d r e p r e s e n t s o n e end of a c o n t i n u u m of p u r i s t i c a c c e p t a b i l i t y , and the s l a n g l e x i c o n of c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h the o t h e r . T h e e x a c t d i s t r i b u t i o n of the o t h e r c o l l o q u i a l p h e n o m e n a , with t h e i r concomitant s o c i a l s t i g m a along this c o n t i n u u m , i s not g i v e n h e r e . T h i s w o u l d i n v o l v e b r o a d t e s t i n g b e y o n d the s c o p e of t h i s w o r k . Only the m o s t g e n e r a l s t a t e m e n t s c a n b e m a d e r e g a r d i n g the a p p e a r a n c e of t h e s e f e a t u r e s in v a r i o u s s o c i a l g r o u p s . 0. 6 T h e D a t a and I n f o r m a n t s T h e c o l l o q u i a l c o r p u s f r o m w h i c h t h i s study i s t a k e n w a s g a t h e r e d d u r i n g the f a l l of 1964 in H e l s i n k i , F i n l a n d . It c o n s i s t s of n e a r l y twenty h o u r s of t a p e - r e c o r d e d c o n v e r s a t i o n s and m a n y n o t e b o o k s of e l i c i t e d e x p r e s s i o n s of l i f e - t i m e r e s i d e n t s of the c i t y . M u c h of the d a t a w a s o b t a i n e d f r o m t w e l v e m a l e and s i x f e m a l e i n f o r m a n t s , r a n g i n g in a g e f r o m s i x t e e n to t w e n t y . Nine other m a j o r i n f o r m a n t s w e r e in the t w e n t y - f i v e to f o r t y - f i v e y e a r a g e g r o u p . Most of the t e e n a g e r s w e r e c a d e t s at the K a a r t i n K a s a r m i , o r m e m b e r s of the N u o r t e n V a l i s t u s k e r h o , w h i c h p r o v i d e s a g o o d c r o s s - s e c t i o n of H e l s i n k i y o u t h . T h e a d u l t i n f o r m a n t s w e r e h o u s e w i v e s and m e n b i l l e t e d in the S a l v a t i o n A r m y q u a r t e r s . T h e s e , a l o n g w i t h n u m e r o u s o t h e r p u z z l e d , a m u s e d , o r o t h e r w i s e c o o p e r a t i v e p e o p l e , w e r e the s o u r c e s in the f i e l d . T h e l i t e r a r y c o r p u s a g a i n s t w h i c h the c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h

12

P h o n o l o g i c a l and L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h

is c o n t r a s t e d is e a s i l y obtained f r o m p r i n t e d texts w h o s e o r t h o g r a p h y a c h i e v e s , with m i n o r e x c e p t i o n s , the a c c u r a c y of broad phonetic transcription. A n o b j e c t i o n m a y be r a i s e d that H e l s i n k i i s such a l a r g e and l i n g u i s t i c a l l y d i v e r s i f i e d c o m m u n i t y that no study could m a k e a c c u r a t e g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s about its c o l l o q u i a l speech. T h i s s e e m i n g l y l o g i c a l v i e w i s quickly shown to be i n c o r r e c t , b e c a u s e it is just this e n v i r o n m e n t , i . e. dense population and dynamic l i n g u i s t i c i n t e r c h a n g e , that g i v e s r i s e to the unique c o l l o q u i a l speech which is s u r p r i s i n g l y u n i f o r m throughout the c i t y . C l e a r l y , t h e r e a r e s o m e d i f f e r e n c e s in v o c a b u l a r y , denotation, and connotation, but the i n v e s t i g a t o r is struck by the g e n e r a l s a m e n e s s of p h o n o l o g i c a l , l e x i c a l , and syntactic f e a t u r e s . N o other p l a c e in F i n l a n d exhibits such dynamic l i n g u i s t i c phenomena. T h e F i n n i s h linguists who a r e i n t e r e s t e d in H e l s i n k i speech f e e l that this unique situation p r o b a b l y had its beginnings about 1890, when S w e d i s h , R u s s i a n , and F i n n i s h w e r e a l l in a c t i v e use in H e l s i n k i . 21 0. 7

Conclusions

T h e d i s t i n c t i v e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of C F m a y be stated in the b r o a d c a t e g o r i e s of b o r r o w i n g with c o n c o m i t a n t p h o n o l o g i c a l changes, c o m p e n s a t o r y reduction in w o r d length with a f f i x a t i o n , lack of v o w e l h a r m o n y and g r a d a t i o n , e x p r e s s i v e p h o n o l o g i c a l c o m b i n a t i o n s , a c t i v e use of m e t a p h o r s , numerous r e g u l a r m o r p h o p h o n e m i c changes f r o m S F , and d e v i a t i o n s f r o m S F syntax. T h e b o r r o w i n g s a r e c h i e f l y f r o m standard F i n n i s h , S w e d i s h , and E n g l i s h , but G e r m a n , R u s s i a n , F r e n c h , and e v e n Italian and Y i d d i s h have contributed to the l e x i c o n . In most c a s e s , if the l o a n w o r d d i f f e r s in p h o n o l o g i c a l patterning f r o m F i n n i s h , t h e r e is the e x p e c t e d " r e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n " of phonology. F o r e x a m p l e , v o i c e d consonants tend to l o s e t h e i r v o i c i n g , g e m i n a t i o n of stops tends to o c c u r a f t e r r e s o n a n t s , c o m p l e x s y l l a b l e nuclei b e c o m e s i m p l i f i e d , and s t r e s s shifts to the initial s y l l a b l e . T h a t the host language i m p o s e s its own phonetic p a t t e r n on b o r r o w e d w o r d s is a x i o m a t i c and needs l i t t l e f u r t h e r explanation. T h e o c c u r r e n c e of w o r d s in which t h e s e changes do not appear can o f t e n be attributed to the s p e a k e r ' s c o n s c i o u s attempt to use m o r e novel o r e x p r e s s i v e p h o n o l o g i c a l c o m b i n a t i o n s . V a r i o u s n o n - F i n n i s h consonant c l u s t e r s a r e used f o r e f f e c t , as w e l l as the phones [b], [d], f g ] , and [S], which a r e i n d i c a t i v e of f o r e i g n , m a i n l y Swedish, i n f l u e n c e . In C F t h e r e is an o v e r w h e l m i n g tendency to r e d u c e w o r d s to t w o s y l l a b l e s , and g e n e r a l l y , the f i n a l s y l l a b l e is an added a f f i x . Only in slang v e r b i n f i n i t i v e s do w e find t h r e e - s y l l a b l e f o r m s c o n s i s t e n t l y ; h o w e v e r , t h e s e a r e reduced to two s y l l a b l e s in conjugation. A s a r u l e , the f i r s t s y l l a b l e of any w o r d taken into C F r e c e i v e s p r i m a r y s t r e s s ,

Introduction

13

a n d it a l o n e ( s e e 4 . 4 f o r s o m e e x c e p t i o n s ) i s r o u t i n e l y r e t a i n e d . This, t h e r e f o r e , b e c o m e s the only clue to a w o r d ' s f o r m e r o r p r e s e n t m o r p h e m i c i d e n t i t y . O n e of t h e n u m e r o u s a f f i x e s i s t h e n a d d e d t o t h e n e w s t e m t o p r o d u c e a s e c o n d s y l l a b l e ( t h i r d s y l l a b l e i n t h e c a s e of v e r b infinitives), and a productive affix for subsequent inflections. T h e r e i s a n o b v i o u s p r e f e r e n c e i n s e l e c t i o n of a f f i x e s f o r " n e w " CF stems. F o r nouns, the most p r e f e r r e d affixes a r e -i, -is, - a r i ~ a r i , -u, and - a ^ a . Nine other affixes a r e also used, but not so f r e q u e n t l y a s the a b o v e . F o r a d j e c t i v e s , the - i , and - a ~ a a f f i x e s a r e m o s t c o m m o n . T h e f o r m a t i o n of C F v e r b s r e v e a l s a c l e a r p r e f e r e n c e f o r t h e - t a v e r b a f f i x . O v e r 9 0 p e r c e n t of t h e C F v e r b s u t i l i z e t h i s . It i s f u r t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t in S F this suffix is identified with a v e r b c l a s s often c o n s i d e r e d a n o m a l o u s . In conjugation, the ending is c o m p l e t e l y lost. Although C F tends to i m p o s e its F i n n i s h phonetic p a t t e r n on loan w o r d s , t h i s t e n d e n c y d o e s not e x t e n d to t h e r u l e s f o r v o w e l h a r m o n y and g r a d a t i o n . In loan w o r d s , suffix v o w e l s a r e a l w a y s back vowels, a n d t h e r u l e s f o r g r a d a t i o n s i m p l y do not a p p l y . O n l y w o r d s c l e a r l y e n t r e n c h e d as " F i n n i s h " participate in t h e s e f e a t u r e s . R e g a r d i n g t h e m e t a p h o r i c a l u s e of s l a n g , l e t i t s i m p l y b e s t a t e d t h a t c o l l o q u i a l s p e e c h i n a l l l a n g u a g e s m a k e s e x t e n s i v e u s e of m e t a p h o r s in g e n e r a t i n g i d i o m s and in n a m i n g p l a c e s , p e r s o n s , and t h i n g s . C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h is no exception; h o w e v e r , m e t a p h o r i c a l u s a g e i s n o t t r e a t e d s e p a r a t e l y i n t h i s t e x t . T h e w o r k s of L i u t t u , Suojanen, and H a h m o a r e replete with data on this aspect. The regular morphophonemic changes f r o m SF represent, p e r h a p s , t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g a r e a of s t u d y , f o r t h e r e i n w e f i n d , not so m u c h the e x t e r n a l f o r e i g n i n f l u e n c e , but t h e i n t e r n a l t e n d e n c i e s f o r change. T h e r e a r e m a n y p r o c e s s e s at w o r k , including v a r i o u s t y p e s of r e d u c t i o n , a s s i m i l a t i o n , d i s s i m i l a t i o n , g e m i n a t i o n , a p o c o p e , d e l e t i o n , i n t r u s i o n , and a n a l o g y . In e a c h c a s e , the p h o n o l o g i c a l d i f f e r e n c e f r o m S F is s y s t e m a t i c and t r a c e a b l e to general dialect a r e a s , indicating that phonological changes exh i b i t e d i n C F a r e t h e r e s u l t of c o n v e r g i n g d i a l e c t f e a t u r e s . Although t h e r e a r e m a n y stabilizing f o r c e s devoted to maintaining a n o r m a t i v e S F , w h e n o n e s t u d i e s t h e p h o n o l o g y of C F , h e c a n n o t b u t r e f l e c t , if o n l y f o r a m o m e n t , t o c o n s i d e r t h e w o r d s of W i l h e l m von Humboldt: " T h a t which unfolds itself naturally is what has r e a l s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r l a n g u a g e s . . . not t h a t w h i c h t h e y c a n be m a d e to do but that w h i c h they a r e t e m p t e d and a r e e a g e r to d o . " 2 2 T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of d i f f e r e n c e s i n s y n t a x b e t w e e n C F a n d S F i s n o t t h e m a i n p u r p o s e of t h i s t e x t ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , n o d i s c u s s i o n of C F w o u l d b e c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t m e n t i o n of t h e m . I n C F t h e r e i s a p e r v a s i v e u s e of t h e p a s s i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n s f o r t h e a c t i v e v o i c e . The

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h

14

usual f i r s t - p e r s o n - p l u r a l verb conjugations a r e consistently r e p l a c e d by p a s s i v e v e r b a l c o n s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e s a m e t e n s e and m o o d . A l s o , the p a s s i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n s a r e always used for the p l u r a l a c t i v e imperative mood. T h e S F h u m a n - t h i r d - p e r s o n pronouns a r e replaced b y n e u t r a l d e m o n s t r a t i v e p r o n o u n s , and s u b j e c t - v e r b a g r e e m e n t i s l a c k i n g in t h e p l u r a l f o r m s . E x a m p l e s o f t h e s e a r e g i v e n in A p p e n d i x I . 0 . 7. 1 S u m m a r y M o r p h o p h o n e m i c d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n C F and S F m a y b e s u m m a r i z e d by t h e f o l l o w i n g " r u l e s " w h i c h a r e t o b e r e a d , w h e r e S F e x h i b i t s X, C F exhibits Y. 1.

C F c o n s o n a n t d e l e t i o n w i t h r e s u l t i n g long v o w e l ! SF

CF 1 m

V

V2(X)

l'Vl

£ >

V^V)

(X) V

1

V

X = any c o n s o n a n t , and n e i t h e r V nor V

2.

1

I n i t i a l s y l l a b l e v o w e l d e l e t i o n w i t h t o t a l a s s i m i l a t i o n o f [n] and conditional l o s s of [m]: SF

CF

m" i s 3.

2 = W-

i f ' il I n j n

(m) Y

O

t"

m s

Diphthong d i s s i m i l a t i o n o r lowering: SF

CF

îe yS u o

i a yä u a

/

V

15

Introduction 4.

R e d u c t i o n of

u n s t r e s s e d diphthongs: w h e r e Yi is u n s t r e s s e d and

Vi

V*[e] 5.

Diphthong substitution and reduction: SF CF /# . #• # = word boundary C = any consonant

6.

7.

Geminate -tt- from -ts-: SF [ ts ] Q

A p o c o p e of f i n a l v o w e l s w i t h c o n d i t i o n a l c o n c o m i t a n t c o n s o n a n t loss:

SF (i) V(i) C j ( C ^ ) A(n) C

8.

J

1C2A

CF (i)V(i)C1 I—S.

C

A p o c o p e of [ i SF Xsi

9.

CF [ tt ]

CF # Xs

#

w h e r e C 1 = [t k 1 s n]

A = [ä, a,

e]

w h e r e X = any phonetic string

L o s s of m e d i a l [d]: CF

SF

h

h (C)V

10.

1C2

#

dV(C)

(C) V

V(C)

A p o c o p e of f i n a l [ n ]: SF Xn

CF X

w h e r e [n]^genitive or accusative X = any phonetic string

P h o n o l o g i c a l and L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l Finnish D e l e t i o n of u n s t r e s s e d [ v i ] in v e r b " t a r v i t a " .

o

SF tarvitse

CF tartte

I n t r u s i v e [ s ] and conditional l o s s of e i t h e r [ t ] o r p a r t i c l e : SF X

CF Xks t

kV

Xjt[s, t] kV = i n t e r r o g a t i v e particle

ks

V

kV(V) n = non-interrogative particle .

v

kV( V ) n

V^ s k V ( V ) V j = unstressed vowel not f o l l o w e d b y light aspiration.

l 0

A p o c o p e of p a r t i c i p l e f i n a l [t]: SF Vt#

CF C>

V

#

w h e r e V t = singular a c t i v e past p a r t i c i p l e a f f i x , 1 = light a s p i r a t i o n .

A b b r e v i a t i o n in n u m b e r s : It i s not p r a c t i c a b l e to w r i t e a g e n e r a l r u l e f o r this f e a t u r e ( s e e 2.13) . P a r t i a l analogy in gradation: T h i s f e a t u r e i s dependent on the f o r m of loan w o r d s ( s e e 2.14) .

NOTES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Cf. Ikola, S u o m e n k i e l e n k S s i k i r j a , p. 30. H a k u l i n e n , T h e S t r u c t u r e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t of t h e F i n n i s h Language, pp. 1-2. R a p o l a , J o h d a t u s s u o m e n m u r t e i s i i n , p. 32. Juva, Suomen kansan historia, pp. 63-96. P u n t i l a , R u o t s a l a i s u u s S u o m e s s a , pp. 130-40. Rapola, Vanha k i r j a s u o m i , pp. 32-40. T h e c o m p l e t e e s s a y w a s o r i g i n a l l y p u b l i s h e d in the T u r u n W i i k k o s a n o m a t i n 1820. T h i s s e l e c t i o n i s t a k e n f r o m S a n a n m a h t i I , K a n s a l l i s k i r j a l l i s u u d e n l u k e m i s t o , b y V, A . H a i l a a n d E i n o K a u p p i n e n , H e l s i n k i , 1960, p . 7 9 . It w a s a g r e a t d i s s e r v i c e t o t h e F i n n i s h language that the f i r s t Finnish books w e r e written i n t h i s p o o r e r l a n g u a g e of t h e c o a s t a l F i n n s , i n t o w h i c h , o n t o p of e v e r y t h i n g , a d d i t i o n a l l e t t e r s f r o m Swedish and Latin w e r e f o r c e d , o b s c u r i n g our c l e a r language. Although t h e s e books w e r e , to a d e g r e e , p u r g e d of d i a l e c t s b y d e c r e e of t h e p o w e r s that be, m u c h still r e m a i n e d u n i m p r o v e d . Following t h e s e books, m a n y have since w r i t t e n F i n n i s h in the s a m e m a n n e r , and h a v e b e c o m e u s e d to not only w r i t i n g and r e a d i n g d i f f e r e n t l y f r o m w h a t c l e a r F i n n s s p e a k , but a l s o believing that the c l e a r e s t l a n g u a g e is to be found in b o o k s . Everyone u n d e r s t a n d s , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e o r i g i n of b o o k s is f r o m language, and that, t h e r e f o r e , b o o k s should b e c o r r e c t e d a c c o r d i n g to t h e l a n g u a g e , and not the language a c c o r d i n g to the books.

8.

9. 10. 11.

H a k u l i n e n , T h e S t r u c t u r e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t of t h e F i n n i s h L a n g u a g e ^ pp. 293-300. Hakulinen also d i s c u s s e s other personalities involved in t h e d e b a t e s . Juva, Suomen kansan historia, pp. 63-96. A i r i l a , VirittSjS, pp. 73-74. C a n n e l i n , Y i r i t t S j g , p. 79. In s o m e t o w n s , and m a n y r e g i o n s in t h e country also, the language is such j a r g o n that 17

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h it i s n e i t h e r S w e d i s h n o r F i n n i s h , b u t a h a p h a z a r d m i x t u r e , h o d g e p o d g e , of b o t h , w h i c h c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e s how w r e t c h e d a l a n g u a g e c a n b e c o m e w h e n it i s m o l d e d w i t h o u t c o n s i d e r a t i o n f r o m d i f f e r e n t k i n d s of m a t e r i a l s , e i t h e r f r o m two d i f f e r e n t l a n g u a g e s , o r by m i x i n g two s e p a r a t e dialects. . . . What piglatin for a conversation language . . . ! Ibid. P e r h a p s it i s t o b e a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e s e k i n d s of e x p r e s s i o n s i n f l u e n c e d b y S w e d i s h , for which t h e r e a r e clearly native ones to s u b s t i t u t e , a r e not a c r e d i t t o o u r l a n g u a g e . A n y o n e w h o i s u n a w a r e of t h e f a c t t h a t f o r e i g n i n f l u e n c e i s i n q u e s t i o n h e r e , b e c a u s e of n o t being familiar with that foreign language, s u r e l y would not b e o f f e n d e d in t h e l e a s t by t h o s e f o r e i g n p h r a s e s ; a n d , it i s t h i s v e r y f a c t o r w h i c h r e s u l t s in t h e i r being able to r e m a i n so p e a c e f u l l y i n t h e l a n g u a g e . B u t , t h i s d o e s not j u s t i f y u s in putting up w i t h t h e m so l o n g a s t h e y c a n b e a v o i d e d w i t h o u t m a k i n g o u r l a n g u a g e p o o r e r in e x p r e s s i v e means. Rapola, Kolmas kielivartio,

pp.

135-36.

F o r e i g n o r i g i n in itself is not b a d . No l a n g u a g e c a n get along c o m p l e t e l y on i t s own. E v e r y o n e h a s h a d to l e a r n f r o m o t h e r s , a n d l e a r n i n g i n t h i s s e n s e h a s d o n e no h a r m . Purism, in t h e s e n s e t h a t e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h is not a s s u r e d l y native f r o m the beginning should be e l i m i n a t e d f r o m the language, would lead to i m p o s s i b i l i t i e s ; s u c h c a n n o t b e t h e i d e a l . It would i m p o v e r i s h t h e l a n g u a g e and s m o t h e r its s p i r i t . T h e e x a c t s c i e n c e s do not get along anywhere without their international terminology. B u t , n e v e r t h e l e s s , it w a s p r o p e r t h a t " t e l e f o n i , " n e e d e d by e v e r y o n e , w a s c h a n g e d t o " p u h e l i n , " " t e l e g r a f i " to "lennStin, " and " t r a n s f o r m a a t t o r i " to " m u u n t a j a , " or that " t a l r i k k i " and " soppaskooli"

Introduction w e r e d i s p l a c e d by " l a u t a n e n " and " l i e m i k u l h o . " P u r i s m i s right w h e n it d e f e n d s the t r u e m a n n e r s of e x p r e s s i o n , good n a t i v e w o r d s , s e n t e n c e c o n s t r u c t i o n s and m e t a p h o r s w h i c h i n t r u d e r s , u n n e c e s s a r y and u n s u i t a b l e t o t h e b a s i c p a t t e r n s of t h e l a n g u a g e , t r y t o d i s p l a c e . . . . Let it n o t b e s a i d , " k i i t o s p a l j o n , " b u t " p a l j o n k i i t o k s i a , " not " e n tiedS josko tulen, " but " e n tiedS tulenko" . . . let p u r i s m be placed in honor. 14. 15.

C a n n e l i n , V i r i t t g j g , p . 79. Rapola, Vanha kir jasuomi,

p.

24.

L i t e r a r y language in the p r o p e r s e n s e of t h e w o r d d o e s n o t b e g i n u n t i l o n e h a s s t a r t e d t o p r e s e n t , by w r i t i n g , in a d d i t i o n t o the e x p r e s s i o n s slavishly following speech, other concise or extensive e x p r e s s i o n s which a r e l a n g u a g e without f i r s t being s p e e c h , and w h i c h m a y even deviate f r o m the traditional constituents a n d s t r u c t u r e s of t h e s p o k e n l a n g u a g e . It m a y a l s o b e s a i d t h a t o n l y t h e l a n g u a g e of i n t e l l e c t u a l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , e i t h e r o r i g i n a t i n g in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e w r i t i n g of l i t e r a t u r e , o r o t h e r w i s e p r e s e r v e d in w r i t t e n f o r m , i s l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e . Unless the definition might b e c o m e contradictory, t h e l a n g u a g e of m e m o r i z e d f o l k p o e t r y a s w e l l a s t h e r e c o r d e d d i c t a t i o n of p r o m i n e n t f o l k s t o r y - t e l l e r s could a l s o be c o n s i d e r e d a kind of l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e a l w a y s h a s its r e f l e c t i o n in the spoken language. The spoken language, "cultured spoken language, " or the standard l a n g u a g e of a p a r t of s o c i e t y w h i c h h a s l i b e r a l l y cultivated the l i t e r a r y language is also, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c u s t o m a r y u s e of t h e t e r m , literary language. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

B l o o m f i e l d , L a n g u a g e , p . 52. Liuttu, Helsingin slangin keskeista sanastoa. Suojanen, Tur un oppikoululaisten slangisanastoa. Hahmo, T a m p e r e e n oppikoululaisten slangisanastoa. HSmSlSinen, Suomen sotilasslangi. Liuttu, Helsingin slangin keskeistS sanastoa. A f t e r a q u o t a t i o n of G e o r g S c h m i d t - R o h r , b y H a k u l i n e n , V i r i t t a j S , 1936, p . 6 .

P a r t One PHONOLOGY

1.

C O L L O Q U I A L AND S T A N D A R D PHONOLOGICAL S I M I L A R I T I E S

1. 0 Foreign influences B e c a u s e of f o r e i g n i n f l u e n c e , i . e. , l o a n w o r d s a n d f o r e i g n n a m e s , both S F and C F d e v i a t e f r o m w h a t i s g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d to b e the native phonological system.1 T h a t i s , F i n n i s h i s c o n s i d e r e d to l a c k i n i t i a l c o n s o n a n t c l u s t e r s , v o i c e d s t o p s , and the f r i c a t i v e s [f] a n d [S]. A l l of t h e s e o c c u r in S F and C F . T h e i r o c c u r r e n c e in c e r t a i n p r e s t i g e l o a n s i s c o n s c i o u s l y p e r p e t u a t e d by g r a m m a r i a n s , but t h e i r o c c u r r e n c e in C F i s m o r e a n a t u r a l c o n s e q u e n c e of d i f f u s i o n a n d a d e s i r e for e x p r e s s i v i t y or novel effect. In m a n y c a s e s in C F t h e r e i s c o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i a t i o n in the d e g r e e of v o i c i n g in the s t o p s of r e c e n t l y l o a n e d o r i n n o v a t e d w o r d s . These d i f f e r e n c e s a r e n o n d i s t i n c t i v e ; a l t h o u g h , in m a n y w o r d s , s t o p s r e s i s t f r e e v a r i a t i o n in v o i c i n g . S u c h c l e a r - c u t e x a m p l e s j u s t i f y a p h o n e t i c v o i c e d / v o i c e l e s s d i c h o t o m y . A l s o in C F , the i n i t i a l c l u s t e r [ t s ] a l t e r n a t e s quite f r e e l y with [s]. T h e S F initial [ts] a l s o a l t e r n a t e s w ith [ s ] a s a c c e p t a b l e p r o n u n c i a t i o n . T h e v o w e l s y s t e m i s a p p a r e n t l y not s o v u l n e r a b l e to r a d i c a l c h a n g e s in q u a l i t y o r q u a n t i t y , s o the C F and S F v o w e l i n v e n t o r i e s do not d i f f e r f r o m the t r a d i t i o n a l eight v o w e l s c h e m e . P h o n e s o c c u r r i n g in C F and S F a p p e a r in the f o l l o w i n g e x a m p l e s : 1.1

Stops [p] v o i c e l e s s u n a s p i r a t e d b i l a b i a l s t o p . F o r example: S F [piispal " b i s h o p , " [purje] " s a i l . " C F [prStka] " m o t o r c y c l e , " [pimu] " g i r l . " [b] v o i c e d u n a s p i r a t e d b i l a b i a l s t o p . F o r example: S F [bensiini] " g a s o l i n e , " [barbaarinen] " b a r b a r i c . " C F [bonjata] " to u n d e r s t a n d , " [broidi] " b r o t h e r . " [t] v o i c e l e s s u n a s p i r a t e d a l v e o l a r s t o p . F o r example: S F [titma] " t h i s , " [ s a t u ] " f a i r y t a l e . " C F [tupla] " d o u b l e , " [treenata] " t o p r a c t i c e . " [d] v o i c e d u n a s p i r a t e d a l v e o l a r s t o p . F o r example: S F [ d y n a a m i n e n ] " d y n a m i c , " [kadun] " s t r e e t ' s . " C F [duunata] " t o w o r k , " [delata] " t o d i e . " 23

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l

24 [k]

[g]

1. 2

voiceless unaspirated velar stop. For example: S F [katu] " s t r e e t , " [puku] " s u i t . " C F [kundi] " b o y , " [kutsi] " f o r e s t . " voiced unaspirated v e l a r stop. For example: SF [granitti] " g r a n i t e , " [gallona] " g a l l o n . " C F [goisata] "to s l e e p , " [glensa] " d r e s s . "

Fricatives [f] v o i c e l e s s l a b i o d e n t a l f r i c a t i v e . For example: SF [faneeri] " v e n e e r , " [filosofi] " p h i l o s o p h e r . " C F [fibu] " a p p l e , " [ f y r k k a ] " m o n e y . " [v] v o i c e d l a b i o d e n t a l f r i c a t i v e . For example:

[h]

S F [vähän] "a l i t t l e , " [luvata] "to p r o m i s e . " C F [vipata] "to loan, b o r r o w , " [vek] " a w a y . " voiceless glottal fricative. For example: S F [haava] "wound, " [tahto] " w i l l . " CF [hissata] "to drink," [hesa] "Helsinki."

1. 3

Sibilants [s] v o i c e l e s s a l v e o l a r sibilant. For example: S F [käsi] " h a n d , " [sota] " w a r . " C F [safkata] "to e a t , " [stoke] " t r a i n . " [§] v o i c e l e s s f r o n t o - p a l a t a l s i b i l a n t . For example: SF [äakki] " c h e s s , " [geiga] " g e i s h a . " C F [Siinata] "to s h i n e , " [äouata] "to s h o w . "

1. 4

Semivowel or glide [j] v o i c e d f r o n t o - p a l a t a l s e m i v o w e l . For example: S F [jäsen] " m e m b e r , " [joku] " s o m e o n e . " C F [jätkä] " b o y , " [alja] " a l g e b r a . "

1. 5

Résonants [r] voiced alveolar trill. For example: SF [raha] " m o n e y , " [ y m m ä r r ä n ] "I u n d e r s t a n d . " CF [turrari] "touring c a r , " [kirra] "surgeon."

Finnish

C o l l o q u i a l and S t a n d a r d P h o n o l o g i c a l S i m i l a r i t i e s

25

[l]

voiced alveolar lateral. F o r example: S F [talo] " h o u s e , " [laki] " l a w . " C F [leffa] " m o v i e , " [lesti] " b o t t l e . " [m] voiced bilabial n a s a l r e s o n a n t . F o r example: S F [manty] " p i n e , " [sama] " s a m e . " C F [kama] " s t u f f , " [meinata] "to intend." [n] v o i c e d a l v e o l a r n a s a l r e s o n a n t . F o r example: S F [ m o n i ] " m a n y , " [nopea] " f a s t . " C F [ n y k l a r i ] " k e y , " [duuni] " w o r k . " [rj] v o i c e d v e l a r n a s a l r e s o n a n t . F o r example: S F [ l a g k a ] " t h r e a d , " [sagrjen] " v e r y . " C F [ b r e g k k u ] " a l c o h o l " [gurjrjata] " t o s i n g . "

1.6

V ow e l s [i] high f r o n t unrounded v o w e l . F o r example: S F [ i s S ] " f a t h e r , " [kiittaa] " t o t h a n k . " C F [bilikka] " a u t o m o b i l e , " [bilsa] " b i o l o g y . " [ e ] l o w e r - m i d f r o n t unrounded v o w e l . F o r example: S F [ p e s S ] " n e s t , " [kenka] " s h o e . " C F [eka] " f i r s t , " [eldis] " f i r e , l i g h t . " [a] low f r o n t unrounded v o w e l . F o r example: S F [paa] " h e a d , " [ j a r k i ] " s e n s e , r e a s o n . C F [jSnna] " exciting, " [jStski] " i c e c r e a m , [y] high f r o n t s t r o n g l y rounded v o w e l . F o r example: S F [ystava] " f r i e n d , " [alykas] " i n t e l l i g e n t . " C F [fyrkka] " m o n e y , " [fyssa] " p h y s i c s . " [8] l o w e r - m i d f r o n t w e a k l y rounded v o w e l . F o r example: S F [jSrjesto] "organization," [ilmio] "phenomenon." C F [dofis] " b a d s m e l l , " [bogat] " p a n t s . " [u] high b a c k s t r o n g l y rounded v o w e l . F o r example: S F [tuki] " s u p p o r t , " [luku] " c h a p t e r . " C F [bunkka] " b e d , " [fudata] " t o k i c k . " [o] l o w e r - m i d b a c k w e a k l y rounded v o w e l . F o r example:

26

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l

[a]

Finnish

S F [koko] " w h o l e , " [totuus] " t r u t h . " C F [boksi] " a p a r t m e n t , " [dorka] "dull, stupid." low b a c k u n r o u n d e d v o w e l . For example: SF [asema] "station," [katsoa] "to look." C F [budjata] " to live, r e s i d e , " [ b u m m a t a ] " t o b e g . "

1. 7 M o r p h o p h o n e m i c f e a t u r e s 1. 7 . 1 T h e a s p i r a t i o n p h e n o m e n o n . M a n y F i n n i s h w o r d s t e r m i n a t e in a n o n d i s t i n c t i v e p h o n e t i c f e a t u r e o f t e n r e f e r r e d to a s " a s p i r a t i o n . " 3 T h i s i s a c t u a l l y a v e s t i g e of a n e a r l i e r final c o n s o n a n t m o r e c l e a r l y p r e s e r v e d in the e a s t e r n d i a l e c t s . 4 B e f o r e nonvowels this f e a t u r e is completely a s s i m i l a t e d to the s h a p e of t h e f o l l o w i n g p h o n e . W h e n f o l l o w e d b y a v o w e l , i t o c c u r s a s glottal s t r i c t u r e , o r a s a light a s p i r a t i o n . W h e n not a s s i m i l a t e d t o t h e f o l l o w i n g c o n s o n a n t , it w i l l b e t r a n s c r i b e d [ ' ] . T h i s f e a t u r e h a s not b e e n p r e s e r v e d in all d i a l e c t s , so g r a m m a r s p r o v i d e l e s s o n s f o r s t u d e n t s to l e a r n the p r e s c r i b e d p r o n u n c i a t i o n a f f e c t e d by it. For e x a m p l e : [ a n n a ' o l l a ] " l e t (it) b e , " [ t u l e p p o i s ] " c o m e a w a y , " [ k o e t a t tukeal IShimmSistSsi] " t r y to support your n e i g h b o r , " [alam mennS] " s t a r t to g o , " [ p u h u m m e s siitS] " w e speak about i t , " and [ s a n o m m e 1 ettS] " w e say t h a t . " T h i s f e a t u r e is p r e s e n t by analogy in s o m e C F e x p r e s s i o n s . F o r e x a m p l e : [se s t i k k a a s s i t s ] " h e s t i c k s it, " and [dallat tSnne] " w a l k here!" 1. 7 . 2 C o n s o n a n t g e m i n a t i o n . C o n s o n a n t g e m i n a t i o n i n m e d i a l p o s i t i o n is c o m m o n to both S F and C F . In S F , all c o n s o n a n t s e x c e p t [b, d, g] a n d [v, f] o c c u r c o m m o n l y in g e m i n a t i o n . In C F , a l l m e n t i o n e d c o n s o n a n t s e x c e p t [d] a n d [v] o c c u r g e m i n a t e l y . T h e g e m i n a t e s m a y b e two to t h r e e t i m e s a s long a s c o r r e s p o n d i n g single c o n s o n a n t s u t t e r e d a t t h e s a m e r a t e of s p e e d . A s m a y b e e x p e c t e d , t h e l e n g t h of t h e l o n g c o n s o n a n t s c o r r e s p o n d s d i r e c t l y t o t h e s p e e d of t h e u t t e r a n c e . The f a s t e r t h e a r t i c u l a t i o n , t h e s h o r t e r t h e g e m i n a t i o n . T h e r e d u c t i o n of d i f f e r e n c e in c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n g e m i n a t e and n o n g e m i n a t e c o n s o n a n t s a p p e a r s m a i n l y i n t h e s h o r t e n i n g of t h e l o n g e r g e m i n a t e s . 1. 7. 3 C o n s o n a n t c l u s t e r s . F i n n i s h h a s no native initial c l u s t e r s . Many w o r d s with initial c l u s t e r s borrowed early f r o m G e r m a n i c l a n g u a g e s n o w h a v e o n l y t h e l a s t c o n s o n a n t of t h e o r i g i n a l c l u s t e r in S F . 5 H o w e v e r , in spelling, the m o r e r e c e n t l o a n s in S F have p r e s e r v e d the c l u s t e r s , 6 although the actual pronunciation m a y v a r y c o n s i d e r a b l y , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e d e g r e e of v o i c i n g . T h e following initial c l u s t e r s o c c u r in both S F and C F today: bl - SF [bluffata] "to bluff" C F [blosis] "wind"

Colloquial and Standard Phonological S i m i l a r i t i e s br - S F CF dr - S F CF fl - S F CF fr - S F CF gl - S F CF gr - S F

[briljantti] "polished stone, diamond" [broidi] " b r o t h e r " [draama] "drama" [ d r i i j k k i ] " d r i n k , of s p i r i t s " [flanelli] "flannel" [flygata] "to fly" [fragmentti] "fragment" [frysis] "cold. " [glykoosi] " g l u c o s e " [glensa] " d r e s s " [gramma] "gram"

CF kl - S F CF kn - S F CF kr - S F CF pi - S F CF pn - S F

[grStsi] "porridge" [klarinetti] " c l a r i n e t " [klasari] " g l a s s " [knaappi] " s q u i r e " [knekata] " t o fight, box" [kreivi] "count" [kraka] " t i e " (n. ) [platina] "platinum" [platsi] " p l a c e " [pneumaatikko] " o n e filled with the Holy G h o s t "

CF pr - S F CF ps - S F CF sk - S F CF si - S F CF sm - S F

Not r e c o r d e d , [presidentti] " p r e s i d e n t " [prenkku] " a l c o h o l , s p i r i t s " [psykologinen] " p s y c h o l o g i c a l " [psykka] " p sychology" [skeema] "scheme" [skutsi] " f o r e s t " [slavofiili] "Slavophile" [sluijrji] " p e a c e f u l " [smirgeloidS] "to smooth, polish"

CF sn - S F CF sp - S F CF st - S F CF sv - S F CF ski - S F CF

[smetski] "fishing tackle" [snorkkeli] "snorkel" [snaijata] " t o understand, know" Jsporadinen] "sporadic" [speegeli] " m i r r o r " [stadion] " s t a d i u m " [stadi] "Helsinki" [sveitsi] "Switzerland" [svenski] "Swede" [skleroosi] " s c l e r o s i s " Not r e c o r d e d .

28

Phonological and L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h skr - S F CF spr - S F CF str - SF CF §1 - S F CF £n - S F CF Sv - S F CF tr - SF CF ts - SF CF tS - S F CF

[ s k r u u v i ] " t y p e of c a r d g a m e " [ s k r u u d a t a ] "to eat" [sprigkleri] "sprinkler" Not r e c o r d e d , [struktuuri] "structure" [strimmari] "herring" [ S l a a g e r i ] " c a t c h y song, hit" Not r e c o r d e d . [ s i a u t s e r i ] " g e r m a n rat t e r r i e r " Not r e c o r d e d . [gvaa] "schwa" Not r e c o r d e d , [traagillinen] "tragic" [trafiikki] "traffic" [tsaari] "car" [ t s u p p a r i ] " e r r a n d boy or g i r l " [tgeremissi] "Cheremis" [ t g i i k a t a ] " to look, w a t c h , " a s a v a r i a n t of [ t s ] .

I r o n i c a l l y , p e r h a p s , S F contains a s m a n y or m o r e phonological d e v i a t i o n s f r o m the native F i n n i s h s y s t e m than does C F . 1. 7. 4 Vowel length. Length or quantity i s d i s t i n c t i v e in v o w e l s a s w e l l a s c o n s o n a n t s . The r e l a t i v e length of the l o n g short c o n t r a s t i s dependent on the speed of the u t t e r a n c e . T h e long v o w e l s tend to be m o r e e x a g g e r a t e d in s l o w e r s p e e c h , and a r e r e d u c e d m o r e than the short v o w e l s in r a p i d u t t e r a n c e s . A l l v o w e l s tend to be l o n g e r in open s y l l a b l e s , and the length of v o w e l s i s i n c r e a s e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y in u t t e r a n c e - f i n a l , opens y l l a b l e position. 7 1. 7. 5 Vowel h a r m o n y . Vowel h a r m o n y , l i k e length in v o w e l s and consonants, i s often cited a s one of the d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e s of F i n n i s h . T h e s e l e c t i v e h a r m o n y i s front v s . b a c k , i . e. , the front v o w e l s [y, o, a ] n e v e r o c c u r in the s a m e F i n n i s h w o r d w i t h the back v o w e l s [u, o, a ] . Both front and back v o w e l s o c c u r w i t h the s e m i n e u t r a l front v o w e l s [i, e], but when t h e s e a r e the only v o w e l s in a w o r d , any added d e r i v a t i o n or i n f l e c t i o n m u s t have front v o w e l h a r m o n y , if t h e r e i s a c h o i c e . In the c a s e of loan w o r d s in S F , if a s i n g l e back vowel o c c u r s in a w o r d , although t h e r e m a y be c o - o c c u r r i n g front v o w e l s , t h e r e m u s t be back vowel h a r m o n y f o r any d e r i v a t i o n s or i n f l e c t i o n s . C F f o l l o w s e s s e n t i a l l y the s a m e r u l e . 1. 7 . 6 T h e s y l l a b l e . T h e concept of the " s y l l a b l e " i s v e r y h e l p f u l in d i s c u s s i n g morphophonemic c h a n g e s . A w o r k i n g d e f i n i t i o n

29

C o l l o q u i a l and Standard P h o n o l o g i c a l S i m i l a r i t i e s

f o r delineating s y l l a b l e s in the synchronic phonetic s t r u c t u r e of SF w o u l d have to include the f o l l o w i n g p a r t i a l l y o r d e r e d r u l e s . S y l l a b l e boundary is indicated by the p e r i o d . 8 1. 2.

VVi V V V 12 3

- > V. Vi > V

1

V

2-

V

3

W h e r e V ^ V ^ constitutes an initial-syllable vowel cluster or long v o w e l .

+ B 3.

+ + a

vocalic consonantal diffuse flat

vocalic consonantal diffuse flat

-->X. Y

+ vocalic - consonantal + compact + vocalic - consonantal + compact 5.

xcvx-

+ vocalic - consonantal - diffuse

#

X. c v x

• >X. Y

W h e r e X = any phonetic string.

R u l e number one states that f o r each v o w e l plus a diphthong ending in [ i ] , a s y l l a b l e boundary o c c u r s b e f o r e the diphthong, e . g . [mu. e i s s a], [ n a . O i s s S ] . R u l e number two p l a c e s a s y l l a b l e boundary b e f o r e each v o w e l p r e c e d e d by an i n i t i a l - s y l l a b l e v o w e l c l u s t e r (diphthong) , or long v o w e l , e . g . [lau. antai], [leu. an], [ a i . on], [ v a a . an]. R u l e number t h r e e p l a c e s a s y l l a b l e boundary b e t w e e n a l l high and m i d v o w e l s , if they d i f f e r in rounding, and b e t w e e n all high and low v o w e l s , e . g . [ky. eta], [joukku. e], [ i . Sti], [autu. a s ] . R u l e number f o u r p l a c e s a s y l l a b l e boundary b e t w e e n all low and m i d v o w e l s , e. g. [pa. eta], [kg. eta]. R u l e number f i v e states that each o c c u r r e n c e of CV is p r e c e d e d by a s y l l a b l e boundary unless t h e r e is a w o r d boundary p r e s e n t , e . g . [kire j a l . l i . suu. d e s . ta], [kuo. l e . m a t . to. muus]. T h e rule does not apply to initial consonant c l u s t e r s in loan w o r d s . Only rule number f i v e is n e c e s s a r y f o r i d e n t i f y i n g C F s y l l a b l e s , b e c a u s e C F does not have the underlying h i s t o r i c a l b a s e f o r m s of

30

P h o n o l o g i c a l a n d L e x i c a l A s p e c t s of C o l l o q u i a l F i n n i s h

s o m e w o r d s in S F which s e e m i n g l y c a u s e c o m p l e x i t y in phonetic s y l l a b l e s t r u c t u r e , if v i e w e d s u p e r f i c i a l l y , a s w e h a v e d o n e a b o v e . A c t u a l l y , o n l y r u l e n u m b e r f i v e i s n e c e s s a r y f o r both C F and S F , i f s y l l a b l e b o u n d a r i e s a r e d e t e r m i n e d e a r l i e r in d e r i v a t i o n a c c o r d i n g to h i s t o r i c a l b a s e f o r m s . T h e m o t i v a t i o n f o r t h i s i s not o n l y t o e c o n o m i z e on s y l l a b l e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n r u l e s , but a l s o t o p r o v i d e a r e g u l a r b a s i s f o r t h e d i s c u s s i o n and e x p l a n a t i o n of gradation. S e e 2. 0. 1. 7. 7 G r a d a t i o n . T h e t e r m " g r a d a t i o n " r e f e r s t o t h e m o r p h o p h o n e m i c a l t e r n a t i o n of c o n s o n a n t q u a n t i t y o r q u a l i t y , and m a y b e d i s c u s s e d in t e r m s of o p e n v s . c l o s e d s y l l a b l e s . S y l l a b l e s of t h e f o r m ( C ) ( C ) ( C ) V ( V ) , a n d ( C ) ( C ) ( C ) V ( V ) C a r e to b e c o n s i d e r e d o p e n and c l o s e d s y l l a b l e s , r e spectively. F o r t h e p u r p o s e of t h i s d i s c u s s i o n , o p e n s y l l a b l e s w i l l b e s a i d t o c o n d i t i o n t h e a p p e a r a n c e of t h e " s t r o n g g r a d e , " and c l o s e d , the " w e a k . " T h a t i s , given the strong g r a d e b e f o r e a n o p e n s y l l a b l e b o u n d a r y , it w i l l u n d e r g o t h e g r a d a t i o n p r o c e s s to t h e w e a k e r f o r m i f a c o n s o n a n t i s a d d e d w h i c h c l o s e s t h e s y l l a b l e . T h e i n v e r s e i s a l s o t h e c a s e . T h i s d o e s not a l t e r syllable boundaries (except when geminate stops a r e reduced) and t h e r e f o r e h e l p s to e K p l a i n s o m e o f t h e p r o b l e m s of i d e n t i fying t h e m a c c o r d i n g to phonetic s u r f a c e s t r u c t u r e . T h e f o l l o w i n g a l t e r n a t i o n s a r e to b e c o n s i d e r e d : Strong grade pp tt kk mp nk nt It rt rk

> >

[kupin] [hatun] [kirkon] [isomman] [lar^an] [pinnan] [sillan] [parran] [jSrjen]

[mato]

"worm"




[madon]

[tahto]

"will"