A more language-aware work community is everyone’s benefit
If more than one language is spoken in a work community, the use of languages should be planned and developed with intent. This is called language awareness. The Union of Research Professionals, for example, has created concrete recommendations for its development.
TeXT Anne Ventelä image istock Translation Marko Saajanaho
Why is language awareness important in working life?
English is used increasingly commonly alongside Finnish and Swedish at workplaces. It has long been considered an effective common working language because the assumption is that everyone knows at least some English. However, things are not quite this simple.
The use of English and our domestic languages should be planned while supporting international experts learning Finnish or Swedish. Not doing this may be detrimental to international workers’ feeling of inclusion and their integration and employment, especially outside the scientific community.
Often, it also affects the division of responsibilities in the work community. It is easy to end up in a situation in which Finnish and Swedish-speaking employees accumulate administrative and teaching tasks whereas international experts’ working hours are research-focused.
The use of English and our domestic languages should be planned while supporting international experts learning Finnish or Swedish.
How is language awareness developed?
The use of different languages should be planned at a level encompassing the entire work community. In other words, what languages should be used in meetings, materials, and various events to ensure everyone gets equal opportunities to participate and make their voice heard? These choices should be actively communicated in advance, and practices should also be updated over time.
Using and learning languages should be supported at the individual level. In the ideal scenario, international experts could study Finnish or Swedish during working hours. In addition, performance appraisals can discuss any wishes and challenges they might have regarding using and learning languages in their work. Practices should also be developed as language skills improve.
What is the ideal scenario where language awareness is taken into account?
It is already considered in the recruitment phase what level of domestic language skills the job truly requires. Job descriptions also consider employees’ linguistic strengths and motivation to ensure fair division of tasks and stress. Achieving a multilingual environment and communicating about it also requires sufficient time and money and sometimes additional interpreter services, for example.
A practical way is to ask during e.g., the enrolment phase of a larger meeting what language an individual is able to follow the presentation in, and what language they themselves would prefer to participate. If necessary, presentation materials can be produced in such a way that different language versions are next to each other on the same slide. Teams can also separately agree on regular afternoon coffee sessions held in Finnish or Swedish regardless of language skills.
The questions were answered by Senior University Lecturer Johanna Komppa from the University of Helsinki’s Department of Finnish, Finno-Ugrian and Scandinavian Studies. Komppa has been consulted as one of the specialists assisting with The Union of Research Professionals language guidelines and recommendations.
