Learn to Speak Finnish

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Learn Finnish
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Origins of the Finnish Language
Finnish is a member of the Finno-Ugric sub-group of the Ural-Altaic family of languages. The Finno-Ugric languages were first spoken by people who lived in the Ural Mountains. Finnish is closely related to Estonian and Saami.

The Finnish vocabulary has been enriched by words borrowed from the Germanic, Slavic, and Baltic languages. There are several dialects. A modified Roman alphabet is used for writing Finnish, which has been recorded since the 16th Century.

How many people speak the Finnish language?
There are just over 5 million people throughout the world who speak Finnish.

Finnish-speaking Countries
There are about 4.6 million people in Finland who speak it as their first language and a further 300,000 in Sweden, 50,000 people in north western Russia, 12,000 in Norway, 5,000 in Estonia, 200,000 in the USA and 36,000 in Canada.

Screenshots from Talk Now! Learn Finnish CD-ROM

Talk Now Finnish CD-ROM Details

This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun, easy and relaxing. There is no better way to teach an old dog new tricks and this fun element of the program means that your fears are forgotten as you absorb words and phrases without even realising you are learning them.

Talk Now! is the world's best selling language learning CD-ROM series for beginners, used by more than three million people to date. It's ideal for travellers, holidaymakers, business people, schoolchildren, students and families.

Anyone over 10 years of age will find the disc indispensable for improving listening, understanding and spoken language skills. There are nine topics: first words, food, colours, phrases, parts of the body, numbers, time, shopping and countries.

The games and quizzes included on the disc ensure that users have fun whilst using the disc, without realising that they're learning. The "intelligent" software feature remembers words you get wrong and targets your weak points.

NOW includes Apple iPod integration, which allows you to listen to Talk Now Finnish wherever you are!

Finnish Culture

Midsummer's Day (Juhannus) is an important annual event for Finns. People leave cities and towns for summer cottages to celebrate the longest day of the year. The Pori Jazz Festival in July is one of the country's most popular festivals, but the Savonlinna Opera Festival, held at medieval Olavinnlinna Castle, is the most famous.

Finnish Music and Dance

As with all the other Scandinavian countries there is a strong folk tradition in Finland with folk songs and dances reflecting the country's history, myths and legends.

Jean Sibelius, one of the greatest of modern composers, wrote recognisably Finnish pieces for the glorification of his people and in defiance of the Russian oppressors. Sibelius fell under the spell of Karelianism, a movement going back to the folk songs Elias Lönnrot compiled for the national epic, the Kalevala in the 1830s. The Kalevala is an epic mythology that includes creation stories and the fight between good and evil.

Finnish Food and Drink

Finnish food has elements of both Swedish and Russian cuisines, but with a lot of variations and local specialities. Potato is the staple food, served with various fish or meat sauces. Some traditional meals include game: snow grouse, reindeer stew, and glowfired salmon or raw pickled salmon.

Strong beers, wines and spirits are sold in licensed bars and restaurants and by the state network, aptly named Alko.

A combination of rice porridge, rye bread and egg, Karjalanpiirakka or Karelian pasty is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Finnish Attractions

Helsinki, Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is the centre of cultural, financial and economic activity. Its green parks and waterways, fresh sea, and many open-air cafés make Helsinki a pleasant place to visit in summer. The city retains a small-town feel: there are no high-rise buildings, and the market square is still surrounded by 19th century architecture.

Turku Turku, Finland's first capital, is the country's oldest city. Today, Turku is a substantial city with fine attractions. Turku Castle, founded in 1280, is the most notable historic building in Finland. It houses an interesting museum, with many rooms decorated to evoke a specific decade or century.

Rauma Although Rauma is the largest wooden town preserved in the Nordic countries, Rauma's old town is not a museum but a living town centre, with many artisans, lace makers and goldsmiths working in small studios, most of which were erected in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Customer Testimonials

"This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! Uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun and relaxing." - PC Answers

"I bought your Learn Malay CD today - I've only just begun, but I wanted to say how much I am enjoying it. I studied Malay from a book all day yesterday, making some 25 pages of notes on grammar and vocab, but I remember more from your CD from just an hour!" - James Bryce

Full list of Talk Now Language CD-ROMs available to buy online in the UK.