Is language learning something boring that requires pedantic attention to detail and memorisation of endless grammatical categories? Or is it something fun and exciting that opens up a whole new window into the way we think and work together? Linguists share the latter view, but others will often relate to the former. Lari Kotilainen wants to remedy this situation.

Kotilainen aspires to change people’s attitudes towards both foreign languages and their own through writing and giving presentations. He has given presentations, humoristic crash courses and introductory Finnish language workshops in Finland, Estonia, Ukraine and several Russian cities, including some in Siberia.

Kotilainen has written works of popular non-fiction, close to two hundred columns, and textbooks on Finnish language and literature intended for vocational schools and secondary schools. For several years he wrote a blog called Suomensuojelija (‘Protector of Finnish’), and has otherwise been active in raising language-related issues on social media. Among his collaborators have been Donald Duck and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Further reading:

• Lari Kotilainen’s blog, Suomensuojelija
• Suomensuojelija on Facebook
• Together with verbal geniuses from the Donald Duck comic book, Lari Kotilainen developed Donald and Gyro Gearloose’s language machine. Test how tight your grasp on Finnish is.
• A series of textbooks titled Tekstitaituri on Finnish language and literature intended for secondary schools.
• ”Voimala: Miksi Suomessa kiroillaan niin paljon?” (‘Why is there so much swearing in Finland?’), Ylen Elävä arkisto August 20th, 2010.
• Lari Kotilainen on Twitter: @LariKotilainen