XPost: soc.culture.baltics, soc.culture.czecho-slovak, soc.culture.russian   
   XPost: alt.politics   
   From: k8mn@frontiernet.net   
      
   Anton wrote:   
   > Dave Heil kirjoitti:   
   >> Eugene Holman wrote:   
   >   
   >>> There are several rgionally different cultures within Finland, as   
   >>> well as   
   >>> three major indigenous langauage groups and other minorities.   
   >   
   >> The Swedish speaking minority makes up only about six percent of the   
   >> population.  For the most part, even Swedes have a tough time   
   >> understanding their Swedish.   
   >   
   > There is not only one Finnish Swedish, but several. A Stockholm Swede   
   > will perhaps understand Helsinki or Turku Swedish even better than Skåne   
   > or Norrland Swedish. On the other hand some dialects like the   
   > osthrobotnian Närpes dialect is equally incomprehensible for both Sweden   
   > Swedes as it is to a Helsinki Swedish-speaker.   
      
   Agreed.  I've noted the difference between the Helsinki Swedish speakers   
   and those I've met in the Arkipelag, like the people living in Brändö.   
   In fact, I suppose that a family living in Eckerö might speak Swedish   
   much as the Stockholm dweller, if only from watching Swedish TV.   
      
   >> For the most part, Finnish culture is very homogeneous.   
   >   
   > It may appear so. To an average Finn a Hamburger and Bavarian are both   
   > the same, except that an elderly Bavarian guy will probably at times   
   > dress in lederhosen and a silly hat, and drink more beer (especially in   
   > october).   
      
   I think it is more than appearance.  Finns read the same magazines and   
   newspapers, watch the same TV programs, eat the same foods (with a few   
   peculiar exceptions like the blood sausage from Tampere).  There is very   
   little difference when compared to the vast cultural differences between   
   some of the Russian peoples.  Of course I'm married to nice Häme girl   
   whose mother came from Karjala.   
      
   Dave Heil   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)