“Is the Finnish language kind of disappearing?”: Finnish Senior Citizens’ Attitudes Towards the English Language: An Interview Study

Abstract

This thesis examines senior citizens' attitudes towards English in Finland through focus group interviews. The aim is to determine what kinds of experiences senior citizens have with English, how these experiences affect their lives, what role they attribute to English in Finland's cultural and linguistic future, and how they perceive speech that incorporates English loanwords and code-switching. The data for this thesis were collected through three focus group interviews with 13 female participants, who were on average 81 years old. The interviews were semi-structured and loosely followed an interview guide with two parts: part 1, background information, and part 2, open-ended questions to elicit attitudes. The interviews were recorded and then transcribed.

The interviews were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Background information was analysed quantitatively, and part 2 of the interview guide was analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The thematic analysis involved familiarising with the interview data through transcription and close reading, generating initial codes, and grouping them into potential themes. The themes were then refined, named, and finally presented in a report, supported by data extracts.

Three themes were identified in the data. Theme 1 concluded that English is very present in the participants' lives and that they encounter it frequently in their everyday lives, but not necessarily understand it, since their proficiency is low. Theme 2 found that the participants give English a significant role now and in the future, potentially through changes in Finnish language and culture and through international relations. Theme 3 concluded that the language the young speak is sometimes hard for senior citizens to understand and includes terms they do not know; however, they understood that the young have always spoken differently from older generations.

The participants viewed English as an increasingly visible part of Finnish society, particularly in areas such as media, education, international communication and working life. Some participants expressed concern about its growing influence on the Finnish language and culture. Limited English proficiency led to feelings of exclusion in everyday situations, especially when communication was dominated by English. Overall, the attitudes of the interviewed senior citizens were varied, combining acceptance of the importance of English with concerns about the future position of Finnish and their own place in a changing linguistic environment.