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in reply to a message by Kätlin
Hi,
I'm just curious. I know the Finnish and Estonian languages are related (both of the Finno-Ugric language family), and to the outsider who speaks neither they certainly LOOK very similar. But are they close enough that most Estonians can read or understand some Finnish without any Finnish language training, and vice versa?
I've read that Finnish and Hungarian (another related language) probably separated about 6,000 years ago. Do you know how long it's been since Finnish and Estonian were a common language, if they ever were?
Thanks,
- Da.
I'm just curious. I know the Finnish and Estonian languages are related (both of the Finno-Ugric language family), and to the outsider who speaks neither they certainly LOOK very similar. But are they close enough that most Estonians can read or understand some Finnish without any Finnish language training, and vice versa?
I've read that Finnish and Hungarian (another related language) probably separated about 6,000 years ago. Do you know how long it's been since Finnish and Estonian were a common language, if they ever were?
Thanks,
- Da.
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