The use of the English language in the Evangelical Lutheran parishes in Finland
Kivekäs, Susanne (2020)
Kivekäs, Susanne
Åbo Akademi
2020
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202003319850
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202003319850
Tiivistelmä
The Evangelic Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) and its parishes have gone through some changes concerning language use, mainly because of the large number of asylum seekers that entered the country in 2015. Immigration and globalization have had an impact on the very much mono- or bilingual ELCF and it has had to rethink strategies to introduce other languages, mostly English, as part of their institution, activities and church ordinances. Traditionally, the ELCF is considered a helper in crisis situations and in the recent decade, work done with immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers have been part of the parish workers’ daily life. Many of the parishes have started using the English language as the lingua franca in the activities organized at the parish to conclude the non-Finnish speakers.
The aim of this study has been to investigate the use of English in the Evangelic Lutheran parishes in Finland, mainly looking at to what extent and in what contexts the English language is used. Data for this study were collected in the autumn of 2019 through an online questionnaire distributed to all of the 328 Finnish Evangelic-Lutheran parishes.
The parishes in Finland organize activities in English for all ages: clubs, camps, choirs, confirmation lessons, Sunday schools, concerts, sermons, masses and devotional assemblies. Family events connected to Christian life, like baptisms, church weddings and funerals are conducted in the parish on a regular basis. English is mostly used alongside Finnish, to help immigrants get integrated into society. The use of English in the parishes has been spread across Finland quite widely, but due to for example relocation and centralization of immigration centers some of the activities in English have ended in part of the parishes. Immigrants’ language skills have also developed and therefore both Finnish and English are spoken in activities at the parishes. A comparison between the use of English in Finnish parishes and in the Finland-Swedish parishes is included in the study. The English language is used similarly in both language groups. English is mostly used in family events and other low-threshold activities, where English is incorporated effortlessly. The parish workers’ positive attitudes towards the use of English and language skills are shown in both language groups. The English language has established itself as a current aid among immigrant work in the parishes in Finland.
The aim of this study has been to investigate the use of English in the Evangelic Lutheran parishes in Finland, mainly looking at to what extent and in what contexts the English language is used. Data for this study were collected in the autumn of 2019 through an online questionnaire distributed to all of the 328 Finnish Evangelic-Lutheran parishes.
The parishes in Finland organize activities in English for all ages: clubs, camps, choirs, confirmation lessons, Sunday schools, concerts, sermons, masses and devotional assemblies. Family events connected to Christian life, like baptisms, church weddings and funerals are conducted in the parish on a regular basis. English is mostly used alongside Finnish, to help immigrants get integrated into society. The use of English in the parishes has been spread across Finland quite widely, but due to for example relocation and centralization of immigration centers some of the activities in English have ended in part of the parishes. Immigrants’ language skills have also developed and therefore both Finnish and English are spoken in activities at the parishes. A comparison between the use of English in Finnish parishes and in the Finland-Swedish parishes is included in the study. The English language is used similarly in both language groups. English is mostly used in family events and other low-threshold activities, where English is incorporated effortlessly. The parish workers’ positive attitudes towards the use of English and language skills are shown in both language groups. The English language has established itself as a current aid among immigrant work in the parishes in Finland.
Kokoelmat
- 6121 Kielitieteet [144]