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Why do they call it Finland?

Lucas Clark | 2018-06-15 03:15:29 | page views:1609
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Olivia Baker

Studied at Yale University, Lives in New Haven. Currently working as a research scientist in the field of neuroscience.
As an expert in linguistics and etymology, I can provide a detailed explanation of why the country is called Finland. The name "Finland" is derived from the Latin term "Finlandia," which was used to describe the region inhabited by the Finns. It is important to understand that the naming of a country is often influenced by various factors, including historical, cultural, and linguistic elements.

The Finnish people refer to their country as "Suomi," which is the native term. The origin of the word "Suomi" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to be derived from the Proto-Uralic word "suomi," which means "land of the Finns." This suggests that the name is a self-designation, reflecting the Finns' own perception of their homeland.

Now, let's delve into the historical context to understand why the country is known as "Finland" in English. The Latin term "Finlandia" was used by the Romans to refer to the area inhabited by the Finns. This term was later adopted by the Scandinavians, who used the Old Norse form "Finland." The Swedish name for the country, "Finland," is derived from this Old Norse term.

The prominence of the Swedish name "Finland" is largely due to the historical relationship between Finland and Sweden. For a significant part of history, Finland was under Swedish rule, and the Swedish language and culture had a strong influence on the region. This is why the Swedish name for the country became widely recognized and used, even after Finland gained independence in 1917.

It is also worth noting that the Finnish language was not codified until the 16th century, which means that the term "Suomi" did not have a standardized written form until relatively recently in history. This could be another reason why the Swedish-derived name "Finland" became more prominent in international usage.

In summary, the name "Finland" is a result of historical, cultural, and linguistic factors. The country's English name is derived from the Latin "Finlandia," which was later adopted by the Scandinavians and influenced by the Swedish name "Finland." The Finnish name "Suomi" is a self-designation that reflects the Finns' own perception of their homeland. The prominence of "Finland" in English is largely due to the historical relationship between Finland and Sweden and the influence of the Swedish language and culture on the region.

Lucas Lewis

Studied at the University of Edinburgh, Lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Because Finnish wasn't codified until the XVIth century, the word --Suomi-- came to the stage after its Swedish counterpart, --Finland--, hence the prominence of the word. ... Well, the Finns call it Suomi. Finland is the name of the country in English language.

Lucas Rogers

QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Because Finnish wasn't codified until the XVIth century, the word --Suomi-- came to the stage after its Swedish counterpart, --Finland--, hence the prominence of the word. ... Well, the Finns call it Suomi. Finland is the name of the country in English language.
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