LAIF Learning Materials

Discussion Questions
Sample answers below

1. How many multilingual people do you identify in the video?
What criteria do you use to identify people as “multilingual”?

2. Who in the video mentions having problems communicating with others in a language they don’t know, or don’t know very well? Who in the video uses which kinds of strategies? Support your answers with evidence from the video.

3. What kinds of evidence was there of dialects of Finnish and Swedish in the interviews? Could the people interviewed speak different dialects?
What did they say about their use of dialect?

4. There seems to be conflicting information in the video. For example, the first person interviewed, Hannu Hellsten, says that he only uses Finnish at the marketplace, but the second person interviewed, Peder Blomsterlund, says he uses primarily Swedish at the marketplace. Are they both right, or is one of them wrong? What do their seemingly conflicting answers tell us about language attitudes and multilingualism? Explain your answer.

5. What was the presence of English in the video? Were you surprised at how much/how little English was spoken by the interviewers and the interviewees? How do you explain the presence of English, versus what expectations you might have had. What do these observations tell us about language attitudes?

6. What differences did you notice between how the people in the interview used languages compared to how others in more official positions might view languages? What do these differences tell you about everyday language use, by real people in their everyday settings, compared to more formal settings and principles?

7. What is the preferred language/dialect of each of the four people interviewed? How do you explain their preferences? What is your preferred language or dialect – and why? How does your choice of languages compare to the people in the video?

8. According to the people in the video, what are the most important words and ideas for them to know in other languages?

9. What kind of ambient/matrix language use do you overhear in the video?
How do you explain this?

10. What kinds of language choices do you make in your own everyday life? For example, which languages do you speak to which people, and why? What language(s) would you speak at the Herring market?

11. What do you think is the main take-away message from this video?





SAMPLE ANSWERS

 

1. How many multilingual people do you identify in the video? What criteria do you use to identify people as “multilingual”?

LAIF team’s answer:
All of the people in the video are multilingual. Everyone in the video knows something from other languages, even if they are not completely fluent. Many people believe that to be multilingual, you must speak another language fluently, perhaps from early childhood. In our project, we think of multilingualism as something much more fluid.
 

2. Who in the video mentions challenges communicating with others in a language they don’t know, or don’t know very well? Who in the video uses which kinds of strategies? Support your answers with evidence from the video.

LAIF team’s answer:
No one in the video says they have trouble communicating. They all use their respective language repertoires to make themselves understood. They specifically mention knowing which words to use for their work – for example, selling fish and apples. Johanna, one of the interviewees, said she sometimes uses translation software on customers’ phones, even when she doesn’t know what language they are using. She did not present this as a problem, and based on her assessment, they seem to manage just fine.
 

3. What kinds of evidence was there of dialects of Finnish and Swedish in the interviews? Could the people interviewed speak different dialects? What did they say about their use of dialect?

LAIF team’s answer: 
Most of the people in the video said they speak some kind of dialect and adjust it depending on who they are talking to. Alina, for example, said she mostly speaks her home dialect of Swedish with her friends and family – and that it feels good!
 

4. There seems to be conflicting information in the video. For example, the first person interviewed, Hannu Hellsten, says that he only uses Finnish at the marketplace, but the second person interviewed, Peder Blomsterlund, says he uses primarily Swedish at the marketplace. Are they both right, or is one of them wrong? What do their seemingly conflicting answers tell us about language attitudes and multilingualism? Explain your answer.

LAIF team’s answer: 
Both Peder and Hannu are correct from their perspectives. Language reality often depends on perspective, and both perspectives are valid for them. Interlocutors adapt to language situations around them, using their full linguistic repertoires to communicate in any given situation.
 

5. What role did English play in the video? Were you surprised at how much/little English was spoken by the interviewers and interviewees? How do you explain the presence of English versus your expectations? What do these observations tell us about language attitudes?

LAIF team’s answer: 
Among the people interviewed, very little English was used. All preferred Finnish and/or Swedish. The only people consistently using English in the video were the interviewers, Liz and Jenny.
 

6. What differences did you notice between how the people in the interview used languages compared to how others in more official positions might view languages? What do these differences tell you about everyday language use by real people in their everyday settings, compared to more formal settings and principles?

LAIF team’s answer:
The interviewees and interviewers had a pragmatic view of language use. They were not concerned about correctness or sounding “smart” or “right.” They used their languages to do their work and interact effectively with others.
 

7. What is the preferred language/dialect of each of the four people interviewed? How do you explain their preferences? What is your preferred language(s) or dialect(s)– and why? How does your choice of languages compare to the people in the video?

LAIF team’s answer:
Swedish x 3, Finnish x 1. Their preference in the context of this video is based on their ‘home’ language(s).
 

8. According to the people in the video, what are the most important words and ideas for them to know in other languages?

LAIF team’s answer:
The word tervetuloa (‘welcome’) is mentioned in Finnish. Making people feel welcome and accepted is most important. Knowing words related to the products they are selling is helpful, but not a necessity.
 

9. What kind of ambient/matrix language use do you overhear in the video? How do you explain this?

LAIF team’s answer:
If you listen closely, Finnish is the main language spoken in the background by people who are not being interviewed or filmed. This is expected since Finnish is the most spoken language in Finland.
 

10. What kinds of language choices do you make in your own everyday life? For example, which languages do you speak to which people, and why? What language(s) would you speak at the Herring market?

LAIF team’s answer:
This is a complex question and depends on many factors, such as how well we know the person we are talking to, their native language(s), age, setting, and other factors.
 

11. What do you think is the main take-away message from this video?

LAIF team’s answer:
The main take-away from this video can differ depending on each viewer’s linguistic background and experiences. It highlights how multilingualism is dynamic and context-dependent, showing how people adapt their language use to meet their needs in everyday interactions. Instead of focusing on a single "correct" interpretation, we encourage viewers to reflect on their own perspectives and consider how language serves as a bridge for communication.