Language in communities and societies

In this focus area, we study phenomena related to language use, language policy and language education policy.

We are interested in issues such as multilingual practices in education and working life, the integration of immigrants into work communities, social media counter-speech, language ideologies and the rights of linguistic minorities.

Focus area projects and researchers

Project

'Broken Finnish': Accent perceptions in societal gatekeeping (2018-2022)

'Broken Finnish’ focuses on accent perceptions in the National Certificates of Language Proficiency test in Finland.
Project

Citizen Science research on co-located schools in Finland and Italy

The main purpose of the project is to facilitate, develop and promote multilingualism in education through Citizen Science research in co-located schools in Finland and Italy (South Tyrol).
Project

Crossing Borders

How do people belong in physical, social and virtual spaces? How do they talk about belonging and non-belonging? How can artistic practice facilitate in expressing and performing belonging? These are the key questions we were interested in this project.
Project

Dynamic Diagnostic Language Assessment - Conceptual and Practical Innovation in Foreign Language Education and Assessment

Dynamic and diagnostic assessment of foreign language
Project

IMPACT

The IMPACT project examines the influence of these language proficiency mandates and associated high-stakes testing on the lives of adult immigrants in Finland.
Project

Integration paths in the Swedish Finland: language choices and linguistic citizenship in Svenskfinland (Medspråk)

Project examines integration paths among asylum seekers and refugees in need of temporary protection in Swedish Finland
Project

Language Awareness and Ideologies in Finland

The LAIF Research Project
Project

Municipal survey on language education policy II 2023-2024

The aim of the study is to investigate primary school principals and municipal decision-makers' agency in language education policies, i.e. their views and experiences of language education at local and national level.
Project

Nordic basic schools as past, present and future sites for solving the challenges of making diverse inclusive knowledge-based societies

This project investigates how the basic school as a physical and social space shapes social interaction and learning.
Project

Other Home - documentary theatre project on integration

In Other Home project we examined how artists from refugee backgrounds talk about their artistic journey to Finland, the importance of language in their art and how they apply for membership in Finnish art circles.
Project

Social media as the fifth estate: forms of counterspeech against hate speech and disinformation

This project explores counterspeech against hate speech and disinformation on social media. In particular, it compares counterspeech in Finnish and German discussions.
Project

The workplace well-being of international experts from the perspective of language proficiency

The workplace well-being of international experts from the perspective of language proficiency