Kielten samankaltaisuus monikielisen suomalais-virolaisen vuorovaikutuksen resurssina
Cross-linguistic similarities as a resource of multilingual interaction between Finns and Estonians

Summary/Abstract: This article discusses how the cross-linguistic similarities between Finnish and Estonian are used as a resource of interaction between Finns and Estonians that belong to a social network in which using both languages is a common way of communication. The data of the study consist of video-recorded informal conversations that are conducted in Finnish and Estonian. The data are analyzed within the framework of conversation analysis. The studied interaction can be called receptive multilingualism (RM). RM is a language constellation in which interactants employ a language different from their interlocutor’s language and understand each other mostly without the help of any additional lingua franca (cf. Zeevaert & ten !ije 2007; Rehbein et al. 2012). In the case of closely related languages, the understanding is based on mutual intelligibility of the languages. Between non-related or remotely related languages RM interaction can succeed if the participants have at least some proficiency in the other language (see Zeevaert 2007). Even though Finnish and Estonian are quite closely related languages, they cannot be seen effortlessly comprehensible for the speakers of the other language because of the differences e.g. in their vocabulary. As evidenced in the previous research (Härmävaara, forthcoming), in the observed data mutual understanding between the speakers of these cognate languages is based both on the similarities of the languages and the means by which the mutual understanding is ensured, such as different kinds of translatory actions and multilingual negotiations of meaning. In the data, also the (assumedly) similar elements of the languages are used as a resource of creating mutual understanding. !e participants with at least some degree of knowledge or idea of the other language can design their speech to this multilingual group by e.g. combining phonological, lexical and morphological elements of these structurally very similar cognate languages through approximating what would be comprehensible for all group members (cf. Verschik 2012). Sometimes these multilingual forms create, rather than solve, problems in the interaction, and the meaning of these in-between forms has to be negotiated. Also the mutual intelligibility of the languages is constantly being negotiated through these multilingual forms, varying from slight accommodation of pronunciation to creating vocabulary and larger constructions that combine elements of both languages. Additionally, the similarities of the languages are used as a resource of creating multilingual group identity.

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