To Tiina Susanna: For your Norweigan friends. Finland has two official languages Finnish and Swedish. Finland is actually located on The Gulf of Finland And The Gulf of Bothnia (Sweden actually is partly on the baltic). Finland was part of Sweden for about 800+ years until it became through war(between Sweden and Russia) only an autonomous grand duchy of Russia for only about 100 years. During this period of time a sense of nationalism grew in Finland which allowed Finnish to take over from Swedish as the major language. The attempt of Russification was a failure and Finland ultimately fought for their National independence. I don't remember ever having seen any Russian language spoken in official matters in Finland but Swedish certainly still. Frankly genetically the Finns are a people all on their own, nothing like the Russians nor the Swedes. The Swedish rule had more of an influence nationally in Finland than the failed attempt of Russification during the last 20 years of having been an autonomous grand duchy of Russia. Finland is geographically and genetically quite isolated. However as far as language goes Finland has two Swedish and Finnish. Maybe if more Northern Europeans traveled within Northern Europe they might see how much in common they actually have.
To Tiina Susanna: For your Norweigan friends. Finland has two official languages Finnish and Swedish. Finland is actually located on The Gulf of Finland And The Gulf of Bothnia (Sweden actually is partly on the baltic). Finland was part of Sweden for about 800+ years until it became through war(between Sweden and Russia) only an autonomous grand duchy of Russia for only about 100 years. During this period of time a sense of nationalism grew in Finland which allowed Finnish to take over from Swedish as the major language. The attempt of Russification was a failure and Finland ultimately fought for their National independence. I don't remember ever having seen any Russian language spoken in official matters in Finland but Swedish certainly still. Frankly genetically the Finns are a people all on their own, nothing like the Russians nor the Swedes. The Swedish rule had more of an influence nationally in Finland than the failed attempt of Russification during the last 20 years of having been an autonomous grand duchy of Russia. Finland is geographically and genetically quite isolated. However as far as language goes Finland has two Swedish and Finnish. Maybe if more Northern Europeans traveled within Northern Europe they might see how much in common they actually have.