I am now in the final year of my academic career with the University of Helsinki. I would love to continue, especially the lecturing and the teaching, because I get ideas and inspiration for my research. But at present I cannot see how that would be possible. When I give up my study, I won’t be able to produce the periodical Synteesi, nor Acta semiotica fennica, or anything else. Perhaps I have to set up a private department or academy. After all privatisation is in fashion nowadays.

In his speech at the degree conferment ceremony last autumn at l’Université Aix-Marseille, my colleague Jean-Marie Jacono described me as “profondement finlandais” (‘deeply Finnish’). I was somewhat taken aback. Once, in 1984, the dean, Yrjö Blomstedt, said ”…täällä ei Tarasti nyt varmaan kauaa viihdy” (’Tarasti is certainly not going to enjoy himself here for too long’). But here I am. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what is going to happen next.

”Eero Tarastin muotokuva Topeliaan” (Eero Tarasti’s portrait in the Topelia building’), Faculty of Arts news bulletin, University of Helsinki (In Finnish.)