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Irma Hyvärinen

Irma Kaarina Hyvärinen
Born August 8, 1949, Helsinki

Bachelor of Arts 1971, Master of Arts 1973, licentiate 1982 and PhD (German philology), University of Oulu

Professor of Germanic philology 1999–2014, University of Helsinki

Director of the Department of German 1999–2006 and 2007–09, University of Helsinki
Assistant professor/ professor of Germanic philology 1998–99, University of Turku
Visiting professor of Germanic linguistics 1996 (summer semester), University of Augsburg, Germany
Assistant professor/ acting professor of Germanic philology 1992–98, University of Jyväskylä
Assistant professor of German, 1991–92, Savonlinna School of Translation Studies, University of Joensuu
Acting assistant professor of German 1990–91, Helsinki School of Economics
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation scholarship researcher 1989–90, University of Passau, Germany
Acting assistant professor of Germanic philology 1985–86, University of Helsinki
Teaching assistant in Germanic philology 1983–89, University of Helsinki
Research assistant 1979–84, Academy of Finland Research Council for the Humanities
Professor of Germanic philology (25 %) 1977–79, University of Oulu
Part-time German teacher 1977–79, Summer University of Northern Ostrobothnia, Oulu
Part-time teacher of Germanic philology 1972–79 and acting teaching assistant 1974–75, University of Oulu

Publications, research projects and other academic activity
Most important research areas: pragmatic phraseology, contrastive syntax, word formation, language learning and teaching, translating lyrics

Awards
The Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Prize 2007, from the German Academic Exchange Service
Award of recognition for master’s thesis supervision, Department of Modern Languages, University of Helsinki

Photo: Mika Federley
Written by Irma Hyvärinen (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington

My dream

My dream is for German—and other languages less studied in school—not to be thrown completely out of the window in the Finnish education system. We should systematically take care of our language resources. Although the number of students of German is falling, the University must ensure that those they educate become top level experts in the field who in addition to their language skills also have good cultural knowledge.

My personal dreams are typical ones: I hope that I will have sufficient health an energy in the coming years for research and for many other kinds of activities: the ‘occupational therapy’ provided by having six grandchildren, walking the dog, going to the summer house, boating, travel, reading literature, going to concerts, the theatre and museums, and, particularly in the summer, cooking … although an outdoor kitchen is an excellent place in which to withdraw and do some research.

Although the pace of work and competition for research funding seems to be ever increasing and the newest spending cuts are a serious threat to successful teaching and research, I hope that the screws will not be tightened too much. A precondition for creativity and innovation is that our most important tool, the person as a complete psycho-physical entity, is in good condition. We should be granted time for recovering and regenerating by, say, sitting on the rocks and gazing at the sea—it is like defragmenting your own hard drive.

It is good to recharge your batteries by, say, sitting on the red rocks by the shore and staring at the sea and meditating. Photo: Markku Hyvärinen.

 

By

Irma Hyvärinen

Irma Kaarina Hyvärinen
Born August 8, 1949, Helsinki

Bachelor of Arts 1971, Master of Arts 1973, licentiate 1982 and PhD (German philology), University of Oulu

Professor of Germanic philology 1999–2014, University of Helsinki

Director of the Department of German 1999–2006 and 2007–09, University of Helsinki
Assistant professor/ professor of Germanic philology 1998–99, University of Turku
Visiting professor of Germanic linguistics 1996 (summer semester), University of Augsburg, Germany
Assistant professor/ acting professor of Germanic philology 1992–98, University of Jyväskylä
Assistant professor of German, 1991–92, Savonlinna School of Translation Studies, University of Joensuu
Acting assistant professor of German 1990–91, Helsinki School of Economics
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation scholarship researcher 1989–90, University of Passau, Germany
Acting assistant professor of Germanic philology 1985–86, University of Helsinki
Teaching assistant in Germanic philology 1983–89, University of Helsinki
Research assistant 1979–84, Academy of Finland Research Council for the Humanities
Professor of Germanic philology (25 %) 1977–79, University of Oulu
Part-time German teacher 1977–79, Summer University of Northern Ostrobothnia, Oulu
Part-time teacher of Germanic philology 1972–79 and acting teaching assistant 1974–75, University of Oulu

Publications, research projects and other academic activity
Most important research areas: pragmatic phraseology, contrastive syntax, word formation, language learning and teaching, translating lyrics

Awards
The Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Prize 2007, from the German Academic Exchange Service
Award of recognition for master’s thesis supervision, Department of Modern Languages, University of Helsinki

Photo: Mika Federley
Written by Irma Hyvärinen (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington

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