Faculty of Arts & Science 2015-2016 Calendar

Finnish

• Finnish Studies Major | Finnish Studies Minor
• Finnish Studies Courses

Faculty

A nation of five million people, Finland is situated between West and East, between Sweden and Russia, sharing for thousands of years religious, historical, political, social, and cultural influences and experiences with its neighbours and the different worlds they represent.

Finnish, a Finno-Ugric language related to Estonian and Hungarian, is spoken by 94% of Finland’s population, by 300,000 in Sweden, and by large numbers in Canada, the United States, and other countries. The other constitutionally recognized group, the Finland-Swedes, comprises over six percent of the population. The Finns have a strong commitment to their languages and to their culture. Their national epic, the Kalevala, compiled in the 19th century from old Finnish epic narrative poems and incantations, soon became a national symbol and continues to this day to inspire the growth and development of the country’s creative force. Today the entire world responds to Finnish achievements in music, literature, the arts and architecture, and celebrates the work of such outstanding figures as Jean Sibelius, Aki Kaurismäki, Alvar Aalto, and Eliel and Eero Saarinen.

Finnish studies at the University of Toronto are presently engaged in teaching the Finnish language - a three-year sequence - and in offering other courses on the literature and culture of Finland.

Finnish Programs

(6 FCEs or their equivalent, with at least 2 FCEs at the 300+ level, including 0.5 FCE at the 400-level)

1. FIN100H1, FIN110H1
2. FIN200H1, FIN210H1
3. FIN300H1
4. 4 FCEs from the following: FIN230H1, FIN235H1, FIN240H1, FIN250H1, FIN260H1, FIN305H11, FIN310H1, FIN320H1, FIN330H1, FIN 340H1, FIN350H1, FIN360H1, FIN400H1, FIN410H1, FIN415H1, FIN420Y1, FIN430H1
5. 0.5 FCE in Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical and Mathematical Universes, or another half course approved by the program director, to fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning competency required in the program.

(4 FCEs or equivalent, including at least one at the 300+ level)

Four FCEs from FIN-designated courses

Finnish Courses

The Department reserves the right to assign students to courses appropriate to their level of competence in Finnish. An introductory language course for students with no knowledge of Finnish. The acquisition of a basic vocabulary and of an understanding of elementary structural features through practice in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.

An introductory language course for students with no knowledge of Finnish. The acquisition of a basic vocabulary and of an understanding of elementary structural features through practice in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.

The four language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) honed by discussion of Finnish literary texts as well as by compositions in Finnish about these texts, by a series of conversation exercises, and by analysis of morphology, syntax and word formation. Translation is used to aid in language learning.

The four language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) honed by discussion of Finnish literary texts as well as by compositions in Finnish about these texts, by a series of conversation exercises, and by analysis of morphology, syntax and word formation. Translation is used to aid in language learning.

A survey of the linguistic structures of the Finno-Ugric languages including Estonian, Finnish and Hungarian with special emphasis on Finnish. Focus is to gain insights into workings of non-Indo-European languages. No prior knowledge of Finno-Ugric languages or linguistics required.

FIN230H1offers an introduction to Finnish society, history and culture 1800 to present. The course examines the rise of Finnish nationalism in the 1800s, its main manifestations, particularly the developments of its cultural, educational and social institutions, its economic structures, its demographics, as well as the nations bilingual status.

FIN235H1 surveys the major works in Finnish literature 1800 to present by examining its role in the implementation of the agenda of Finnish nationalism in the 19th and the 20th century. The major genres and periods in Finnish literature are studied.

Introduction to the greatest authors of Scandinavian literature and their greatest works, particularly August Strinberg, Henrik Ibsen, H.C. Anderssen, Knut Hamsun, Selma Lagerlof, Pr Lagerkvist, Aleksis Kivi, Sigrid Undset and Halldor Laxness, etc. These are situated in their Scandinavian context and in world literature. (Offered every two or three years)

Development of Finnish cinema from its parochial beginnings to its international recognition. The great pastoral tradition; the war memories (Laine, Kassila, Parikka); socio-political engagement of the 60s (Donner, Jarva), the paucity of the 70s (Mollberg); the universal outsider themes of the 80s (Aki and Mika Kaurismaki). Readings and subtitles in English. (Offered in alternate years)

Major developments of cinema in Scandinavia in the 20th and 21st centuries focusing on Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. In addition to "old classics," most important recent films are screened and discussed.  Film directors include Ingmar Bergman, Carl Th. Dreyer, Aki and Mika Kaurismaki, and many others. (Offered in alternate years)

Advanced Finnish provides a continuation of FIN210H1 Intermediate Finnish.

Finnish Morphology and Syntax is designed present the Finnish morphological system and the principles of Finnish syntax to students interested in general linguistics, morphology, syntax, or Finnish linguistics. The Finnish case system, the verb conjugation system and phenomena such as consonant gradation, vowel harmony and clitics will be explored.

An examination of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala: its relationship to the tradition of folk poetry; its quality as an epic poem; the mythological, religious, and cultural dimensions of its world view; its role in Finlands nation building in the 19th and 20th centuries. Readings in English. (Offered at least every alternate year)

Major issues and dimensions of the culture and experience of the Finnish immigrants to Canada, including Finnish Canadian literature, theatre, and press. Conceptual and ideological contributions to working class culture, womens lives, religious and social attitudes and values. Readings in English. (Offered every three or four years)

The course traces the construction of a unified Finnish culture over the centuries from subcultures and values which ultimately have their definitions in the regional diversity of the area now called Finland. It focuses on the main divisions into western and eastern Finland, but also explores the Swedish and the Sami (Lappish) heritage in the context of old cultural regions. The sources used are cultural history texts as well as Finnish literature.

Advanced Finnish II provides a continuation of FIN300H1 Advanced Finnish I.

Historical, structural, and thematic study of the short fiction of Finland from the Romanticism of the 19th century to contemporary post-structuralism and post-modernism. Works of Runeberg, Topelius, Kivi, Canth, Aho, Jotuni, Lehtonen, Schildt, Sillanpaa, Haanpaa, Meri, Hyry, Salama, Mukka, Liksom, and others. Readings in English. (Offered in alternate years)

Bilingualism in Finland as a case study in the sociology of language. A critical survey of the historical development of language politics in Finland as a bilingual society from 1800 until present.

Written translation from Finnish to English. Students will apply their textual analysis skills in translating texts drawn from diverse sources and genres, while exploring the general theory of translation. Translation exercises will serve as the basis for training in comparative Finnish-English stylistics.

A chronological study of the development of Finnish literature, emphasizing outstanding writers, significant movements and trends, the emergence and transformations of the major genres and their relationship to Finnish folklore and to the national awakening. All readings in Finnish. (Offered as needed)

This course examines the main literary works and genres of 20th Century Finland, especially Jotuni, Sillanpaa, Haanpaa, Meri, Manner, Linna, Tuuri and a sample of contemporary writers. All readings in Finnish.

A year-long reading and research project of significant depth in a major area in Finnish language, literature or culture approved and supervised by an instructor. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

A semester-long reading and research project of significant depth in a major area in Finnish language, literature or culture approved and supervised by an instructor. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

This year-long course offers students, primarily Finnish Studies majors and minors, an opportunity to design, together with the instructor, an individualized course of study in Finnish literature or language. Registration requires the permission of the instructor and the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.