View source for Institute for the Languages of Finland

{{Short description|Linguistic research institute sponsored by the Finnish government}}
{{expand Finnish|date=June 2023|topic=gov}}
[[File:Hakaniemenranta-2.jpg|thumb|right|Kotus is located at Hakaniemenkatu 2 in [[Hakaniemi]], Helsinki.]]
The '''Institute for the Languages of Finland''',{{efn|{{langx|fi|Kotimaisten kielten keskus}}, from which the shortened name ''Kotus'' is derived, {{langx|smn|Päikkieennâm kielâi tutkâmkuávdáš}}, {{langx|se|Ruovttueatnan gielaid guovddáš}}, {{langx|sms|Dommjânnmlaž ǩiõli kõõskõs}}, {{langx|rmf|Finnosko tšimbengo instituutos}}, {{langx|sv|Institutet för de inhemska språken}}}} better known as '''Kotus''', is a governmental [[Linguistics|linguistic]] research institute of [[Finland]] geared to studies of [[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]] (cf. [[Finland Swedish]]), the [[Sami languages]], [[Romani language]], as well as [[Finnish Sign Language]] and [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language]].

The institute is charged with the standardization of languages used in Finland. It is the foremost authority on Finnish [[language planning]] and its recommendations are considered to define the standard Finnish which is used in official communication. In addition to these tasks, the Institute also has an important consulting function in the shaping of Finnish language policy and choosing [[toponyms of Finland|toponyms]]. On the other hand, in the Swedish language, the institute usually promotes Swedish usage, with the key aim to prevent the Swedish spoken in Finland from straying too far from its counterpart in [[Sweden]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073020/http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=en&s=205 Swedish]. Research Institute for the Languages of Finland. 12-14-2006. Retrieved 11-22-2007</ref>

The institute has published various magazine, including ''Kielikello'' and ''Språkbruk''.<ref name=pirr>{{cite journal|author=Pirkko Nuolijärvi
|title=The Research Institute for the Languages of Finland|journal=Dialectologia et Geolinguistica|year=2000|issue=8|page=81
|doi=10.1515/dig.2000.2000.8.81}}</ref> In collaboration with other organizations it also published a cultural magazine entitled ''[[Hiidenkivi]]'' until 2012.<ref name=pirr/>

The Institute has a non-binding recommendation that [[Norway]], [[Denmark]], and [[Iceland]] also use the Swedish names for Finnish locations,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sprakinstitutet.fi/namnvard/namnrekommendationer/ortnamn-i-finland-pa-de-nordiska-spraken/|title=Ortnamn i Finland på de nordiska språken|accessdate=1 March 2025|language=sv|publisher=Institute for the Languages of Finland|quote=Svenska ortnamn används i svenska texter. Det här gäller både orter som har enbart ett svenskt namn och orter som har såväl ett finskt som ett svenskt namn. (…) För de andra nordiska språken gäller samma rekommendation.}}</ref> for instance ''Helsingfors'' for [[Helsinki]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/sprakradet-far-pepper-for-a-anbefale-svenske-stedsnavn-i-finland-1.15700743|title=Språkrådet ber deg si Helsingfors, ikke Helsinki: – Idiotisk og latterlig|language=nb|access-date=1 March 2025|date=24 October 2021|publisher=[[NRK]]|archive-date=13 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213091930/https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/sprakradet-far-pepper-for-a-anbefale-svenske-stedsnavn-i-finland-1.15700743|url-status=live|author=Knut-Sverre Horn}}</ref> and which is accepted by the [[Language Council of Norway]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sprakradet.no/spraksporsmal-og-svar/bynavn-i-finland-pa-finsk-eller-svensk/|title=Bynavn i Finland på finsk eller svensk?|accessdate=1 March 2025|lang=nb|publisher=[[Language Council of Norway]]|quote=Der stedsnavn i Finland har både en svensk og en finsk form, anbefaler Språkrådet å velge den svenske formen.}}</ref> While this is mostly adhered to by Norwegian organisations, ''Helsinki'' remains in some use in media<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/eJRn8l/finsk-politiker-fersket-da-han-laget-ulovlig-graffiti|title=Finsk politiker fersket for ulovlig graffiti: –⁠ Fullstendig tankeløs greie|date=28 June 2023|accessdate=1 March 2025|lang=nb|publisher=[[Verdens Gang]]|author=Silje Kathrine Sviggum|quote=Sammen med en venn ble politiker [[Paavo Arhinmäki]] (46) tatt på fersken i togtunnelen ved [[Vuosaari]] havn i Helsinki, (…)}}</ref> and travel guides,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tara.no/livsstil/reise/reiseguide-hva-du-ma-se-og-gjore-i-helsinki|title=Reiseguide: Hva du må se og gjøre i Helsinki|author=Gunnhild Bjørnsti|publisher=Tara|accessdate=2 March 2025|date=3 October 2023|lang=nb}}</ref> while ''Lahtis'' for [[Lahti]] is almost entirely disregarded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tv2.no/sport/vintersport/langrenn/kong-klaebo-er-verdens-beste-ogsa-pa-distanse/16504531/|title=– Kong Klæbo er verdens beste også på distanse|author=Alf-Ivar Rabben Nordsetrønningen|date=2 March 2024|accessdate=2 March 2025|lang=nb|publisher=[[TV2 (Norway)]]|quote=[[Johannes Høsflot Klæbo]] med maktdemonstrasjon i Lahti.}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kotus.fi/en The Institute's homepage in English]

{{Languages of Finland}}
{{Swedish language}}
{{Romani languages}}
{{Government agencies and public bodies of Finland}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category: Finnish language]]
[[Category:Language regulators]]
[[Category:Swedish language]]
[[Category:Linguistic research institutes]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Helsinki]]
[[Category:Sámi in Finland]]
[[Category:Sámi languages]]
[[Category:Romani in Finland]]
[[Category:Romani language]]


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