When was the first written example of Finnish recorded?
The first written example of Finnish appears in a German travel journal dated 1536. A Finnish bishop whose name is unknown spoke words meaning I want to speak Finnish but I am not able to.
Questions about Finnish language
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who created the first comprehensive writing system for Finnish?
Mikael Agricola created the first comprehensive writing system for Finnish in the sixteenth century. He based his orthography on western dialects using elements from Swedish, German and Latin.
How many people speak Finnish today and where do they live?
About five million people speak Finnish today with most residing within Finland itself. Notable Finnish-speaking minorities exist in Sweden, Norway, Russia, Estonia, Brazil, Canada and the United States.
What are the two main groups of Finnish dialects?
Finnish dialects divide into two distinct groups known as Western and Eastern varieties. These dialects remain largely mutually intelligible despite differences in vowels, diphthongs, rhythm and grammatical constructions.
Why does Finnish stress always fall on the first syllable?
Stress always falls on the first syllable adding approximately one hundred milliseconds more length to that vowel. Words appear evenly stressed without measurable modifications in vowel quality unlike English patterns.