Vesa Jarva is University Lecturer in Finnish language at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. He has taught Finnish as a foreign language in the Netherlands, Lithuania, Hungary, and Estonia. Jarva has researched spoken Finnish, especially loanwords and ideophones. His PhD thesis concerned Russian loanwords and expressivity in Finnish dialects. He has also co-edited (with Timo Nurmi) a dictionary of modern colloquial Finnish Oikeeta suomee.
Marjatta Palander, Helka Riionheimo & Vesa Koivisto (eds.), On the Border of Language and Dialect. SKS, Helsinki, 2018
In this paper, we discuss a conversation between Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) speakers recorded in 19... more In this paper, we discuss a conversation between Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) speakers recorded in 1965. A notable feature of OHS is the heavy use of Swedish-based or otherwise un-Finnish words, although it mostly follows the grammar of colloquial Finnish.
The study concerns itself with Old Helsinki Slang (OHS), a peculiar speech variety (spoken approx... more The study concerns itself with Old Helsinki Slang (OHS), a peculiar speech variety (spoken approximately between 1890 and 1950), mixing Finnish morpho-syntax and Swedish vocabulary. It is claimed that it resembles intertwined mixed languages. The study focuses on the lexical, phonological, morphological and syntactical features which are most likely contact- based. Besides the vocabulary, the impact of Swedish is clearly seen in phonology, while in morpho-syntax differences from Finnish are minor. In the conclusion, OHS is compared with Media Lengua and Ma’á. Although OHS was never an independent or an established system, it has a particular value as an example of language mixing in an exceptionally well-documented urban environment, even though the process was interrupted, and OHS gradually merged with Finnish.
Arvio teoksesta: Maria-Magdalena Jürvetson: Suomen
kielen nauramisverbit koloratiivikon-
strukti... more Arvio teoksesta: Maria-Magdalena Jürvetson: Suomen kielen nauramisverbit koloratiivikon- struktiossa. Muoto, merkitys ja tehtävät. Humanitaarteaduste dissertatsioonid 23. Tallinna: Tallinna Ülikool 2015. 194 s.
This paper examines the Finnish verbal expression called the colorative construction (CC). In the... more This paper examines the Finnish verbal expression called the colorative construction (CC). In the CC there are two verbs: a neutral infinitive verb and a finite verb which dramatizes or specifies the denotative meaning. The construction fulfils stylistic and aesthetic functions. Syntactically the CC is not fundamentally different from other infinitive clause types, but certain pragmatic restrictions regulate its usage. The difference between finite verbs in the CC and in other infinitive clauses is particularly important. While, to some extent, finite verbs in the CC fit into theories of descriptive words or ideophones in different languages, not all of them are indisputably ideophones. Nevertheless, they all have potential for expressivity, which is further emphasized by the syntactic construction. However, syntax alone cannot uphold that expressivity, since the CC cannot be formed with any verb. Rather, syntax and semantics are in close interaction, together reinforcing the expressivity of the construction.
The aim of this study is to examine typical features of expressive (descriptive-onomatopoetic) vo... more The aim of this study is to examine typical features of expressive (descriptive-onomatopoetic) vocabulary of Finnish language. The data consist of verbs which are used in so called colorative construction, and thus they may be interpreted expressive (see Jarva-Kytölä 2007). Furthermore, it is assumed that the verbs share other features typical of expressive vocabulary.
In the basis of the data, it seems that expressivity may be best defined by phonological, morphological or syntactical criteria. A particular word may well be interpreted expressive, if it belongs to a larger group of phonologically relative words. It is typical to such groups, that they have verbs with consonant frame CVCise- and nouns of type CVCinA, and there is vowel alteration in the first syllable and alteration with a single consonant and a consonant cluster in the border of the first and second syllables. For example, besides of a verb hurauttaa there are a verb hurise-, a noun hurina, vowel alteration he¬raut¬taa – horauttaa – hyräyttää – häräyttää – höräyttää and consonant alteration hurauttaa – hurkaa - hurkaista – hurnaista. In addition, as the words may be used in verbal and nominal colorative construction, they are apparently expressive.
This study investigates the relationship between words of foreign origin and expressivity. The m... more This study investigates the relationship between words of foreign origin and expressivity. The material was taken from the archive of the Dictionary of Finnish dialects. It consists of four word groups with several variants resembling each other in phonological shape. Each word group has Russian and expressive features. The aim was to show that Russian influence as well as expressivity may be considered as continuums and that there is no sharp boundary between them. A particular word or variant need not to be either a Russian loan or an expressive word, but it can have some of the characteristics of both groups. From the etymological point of view this means that expressivity is not a permanent explanation for a word?s origin. An expressive item is not invariably only domestic, but it can be also of foreign origin. Secondly, it was supposed that Russian influence correlates with geographical area: near to the Russian border there should be more Russian features. To examine these assumptions, variants in each group were divided into three or four classes, so that those nearest to Russian belong to the first class, and in succeeding classes Russian influence gets weaker. The distribution of the classes in each word-group is shown in separate maps. The results can be interpreted so that both Russian influence and expressivity are continuums, but they are not linked in such a way that expressivity would reduce Russian influence or vice versa. Thus there is no causal relationship between these two categories. The assumption of geographical correlation was proved only partly: the first class of variants were mostly known near the Russian border, but the other variants were not systematically located
The article contributes to the discussion about the voiced plosives b, d and g in Finnish. These ... more The article contributes to the discussion about the voiced plosives b, d and g in Finnish. These plosives were originally unknown in Finnish but are now used in the orthography of new loan words. The plosive d also appears in indigenous Finnish words. Pronunciation of the graphemes <bdg> is studied here using a dataset of free spoken Finish. The data comprises material from 40 different speakers divided into ten age-groups.
Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) is a linguistic variety
spoken in the working-class quarters of
Helsin... more Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) is a linguistic variety
spoken in the working-class quarters of
Helsinki at the beginning of the last century. A
remarkable feature of OHS is the heavy use of
Swedish-based or otherwise un-Finnish words,
though it mostly follows the grammar of
spoken Finnish.
In this paper we will discuss a conversation
between OHS speakers recorded in 1965. The
focus of our attention is vocabulary, but we
will also give examples of some phonological
and morpho-syntactical features.
Marjatta Palander, Helka Riionheimo & Vesa Koivisto (eds.), On the Border of Language and Dialect. SKS, Helsinki, 2018
In this paper, we discuss a conversation between Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) speakers recorded in 19... more In this paper, we discuss a conversation between Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) speakers recorded in 1965. A notable feature of OHS is the heavy use of Swedish-based or otherwise un-Finnish words, although it mostly follows the grammar of colloquial Finnish.
The study concerns itself with Old Helsinki Slang (OHS), a peculiar speech variety (spoken approx... more The study concerns itself with Old Helsinki Slang (OHS), a peculiar speech variety (spoken approximately between 1890 and 1950), mixing Finnish morpho-syntax and Swedish vocabulary. It is claimed that it resembles intertwined mixed languages. The study focuses on the lexical, phonological, morphological and syntactical features which are most likely contact- based. Besides the vocabulary, the impact of Swedish is clearly seen in phonology, while in morpho-syntax differences from Finnish are minor. In the conclusion, OHS is compared with Media Lengua and Ma’á. Although OHS was never an independent or an established system, it has a particular value as an example of language mixing in an exceptionally well-documented urban environment, even though the process was interrupted, and OHS gradually merged with Finnish.
Arvio teoksesta: Maria-Magdalena Jürvetson: Suomen
kielen nauramisverbit koloratiivikon-
strukti... more Arvio teoksesta: Maria-Magdalena Jürvetson: Suomen kielen nauramisverbit koloratiivikon- struktiossa. Muoto, merkitys ja tehtävät. Humanitaarteaduste dissertatsioonid 23. Tallinna: Tallinna Ülikool 2015. 194 s.
This paper examines the Finnish verbal expression called the colorative construction (CC). In the... more This paper examines the Finnish verbal expression called the colorative construction (CC). In the CC there are two verbs: a neutral infinitive verb and a finite verb which dramatizes or specifies the denotative meaning. The construction fulfils stylistic and aesthetic functions. Syntactically the CC is not fundamentally different from other infinitive clause types, but certain pragmatic restrictions regulate its usage. The difference between finite verbs in the CC and in other infinitive clauses is particularly important. While, to some extent, finite verbs in the CC fit into theories of descriptive words or ideophones in different languages, not all of them are indisputably ideophones. Nevertheless, they all have potential for expressivity, which is further emphasized by the syntactic construction. However, syntax alone cannot uphold that expressivity, since the CC cannot be formed with any verb. Rather, syntax and semantics are in close interaction, together reinforcing the expressivity of the construction.
The aim of this study is to examine typical features of expressive (descriptive-onomatopoetic) vo... more The aim of this study is to examine typical features of expressive (descriptive-onomatopoetic) vocabulary of Finnish language. The data consist of verbs which are used in so called colorative construction, and thus they may be interpreted expressive (see Jarva-Kytölä 2007). Furthermore, it is assumed that the verbs share other features typical of expressive vocabulary.
In the basis of the data, it seems that expressivity may be best defined by phonological, morphological or syntactical criteria. A particular word may well be interpreted expressive, if it belongs to a larger group of phonologically relative words. It is typical to such groups, that they have verbs with consonant frame CVCise- and nouns of type CVCinA, and there is vowel alteration in the first syllable and alteration with a single consonant and a consonant cluster in the border of the first and second syllables. For example, besides of a verb hurauttaa there are a verb hurise-, a noun hurina, vowel alteration he¬raut¬taa – horauttaa – hyräyttää – häräyttää – höräyttää and consonant alteration hurauttaa – hurkaa - hurkaista – hurnaista. In addition, as the words may be used in verbal and nominal colorative construction, they are apparently expressive.
This study investigates the relationship between words of foreign origin and expressivity. The m... more This study investigates the relationship between words of foreign origin and expressivity. The material was taken from the archive of the Dictionary of Finnish dialects. It consists of four word groups with several variants resembling each other in phonological shape. Each word group has Russian and expressive features. The aim was to show that Russian influence as well as expressivity may be considered as continuums and that there is no sharp boundary between them. A particular word or variant need not to be either a Russian loan or an expressive word, but it can have some of the characteristics of both groups. From the etymological point of view this means that expressivity is not a permanent explanation for a word?s origin. An expressive item is not invariably only domestic, but it can be also of foreign origin. Secondly, it was supposed that Russian influence correlates with geographical area: near to the Russian border there should be more Russian features. To examine these assumptions, variants in each group were divided into three or four classes, so that those nearest to Russian belong to the first class, and in succeeding classes Russian influence gets weaker. The distribution of the classes in each word-group is shown in separate maps. The results can be interpreted so that both Russian influence and expressivity are continuums, but they are not linked in such a way that expressivity would reduce Russian influence or vice versa. Thus there is no causal relationship between these two categories. The assumption of geographical correlation was proved only partly: the first class of variants were mostly known near the Russian border, but the other variants were not systematically located
The article contributes to the discussion about the voiced plosives b, d and g in Finnish. These ... more The article contributes to the discussion about the voiced plosives b, d and g in Finnish. These plosives were originally unknown in Finnish but are now used in the orthography of new loan words. The plosive d also appears in indigenous Finnish words. Pronunciation of the graphemes <bdg> is studied here using a dataset of free spoken Finish. The data comprises material from 40 different speakers divided into ten age-groups.
Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) is a linguistic variety
spoken in the working-class quarters of
Helsin... more Old Helsinki Slang (OHS) is a linguistic variety
spoken in the working-class quarters of
Helsinki at the beginning of the last century. A
remarkable feature of OHS is the heavy use of
Swedish-based or otherwise un-Finnish words,
though it mostly follows the grammar of
spoken Finnish.
In this paper we will discuss a conversation
between OHS speakers recorded in 1965. The
focus of our attention is vocabulary, but we
will also give examples of some phonological
and morpho-syntactical features.
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Papers by Vesa Jarva
kielen nauramisverbit koloratiivikon-
struktiossa. Muoto, merkitys ja tehtävät.
Humanitaarteaduste dissertatsioonid 23.
Tallinna: Tallinna Ülikool 2015. 194 s.
In the basis of the data, it seems that expressivity may be best defined by phonological, morphological or syntactical criteria. A particular word may well be interpreted expressive, if it belongs to a larger group of phonologically relative words. It is typical to such groups, that they have verbs with consonant frame CVCise- and nouns of type CVCinA, and there is vowel alteration in the first syllable and alteration with a single consonant and a consonant cluster in the border of the first and second syllables. For example, besides of a verb hurauttaa there are a verb hurise-, a noun hurina, vowel alteration he¬raut¬taa – horauttaa – hyräyttää – häräyttää – höräyttää and consonant alteration hurauttaa – hurkaa - hurkaista – hurnaista. In addition, as the words may be used in verbal and nominal colorative construction, they are apparently expressive.
Conference Presentations by Vesa Jarva
spoken in the working-class quarters of
Helsinki at the beginning of the last century. A
remarkable feature of OHS is the heavy use of
Swedish-based or otherwise un-Finnish words,
though it mostly follows the grammar of
spoken Finnish.
In this paper we will discuss a conversation
between OHS speakers recorded in 1965. The
focus of our attention is vocabulary, but we
will also give examples of some phonological
and morpho-syntactical features.
kielen nauramisverbit koloratiivikon-
struktiossa. Muoto, merkitys ja tehtävät.
Humanitaarteaduste dissertatsioonid 23.
Tallinna: Tallinna Ülikool 2015. 194 s.
In the basis of the data, it seems that expressivity may be best defined by phonological, morphological or syntactical criteria. A particular word may well be interpreted expressive, if it belongs to a larger group of phonologically relative words. It is typical to such groups, that they have verbs with consonant frame CVCise- and nouns of type CVCinA, and there is vowel alteration in the first syllable and alteration with a single consonant and a consonant cluster in the border of the first and second syllables. For example, besides of a verb hurauttaa there are a verb hurise-, a noun hurina, vowel alteration he¬raut¬taa – horauttaa – hyräyttää – häräyttää – höräyttää and consonant alteration hurauttaa – hurkaa - hurkaista – hurnaista. In addition, as the words may be used in verbal and nominal colorative construction, they are apparently expressive.
spoken in the working-class quarters of
Helsinki at the beginning of the last century. A
remarkable feature of OHS is the heavy use of
Swedish-based or otherwise un-Finnish words,
though it mostly follows the grammar of
spoken Finnish.
In this paper we will discuss a conversation
between OHS speakers recorded in 1965. The
focus of our attention is vocabulary, but we
will also give examples of some phonological
and morpho-syntactical features.