One of the questions, aside from language planning and maintenance, with which I have most strongly grappled is Nordic linguistic cohesion. Even at the Swedish-speaking School Student Union of Finland, I felt that Nordic cohesion was important, and while working at the University Student Union that feeling was further strengthened.

Through Scandinavian philology and language planning and maintenance I have also created strong professional ties with the other Nordic countries. As secretary of the language board for Swedish-speaking Finns, I participated in the organisation of a Nordic language meeting in Hanasaari. From then on, I participated in each of the annual Nordic language meetings until 2014. This has given me life-long friendships.

I feel that it is self-evident that Nordic cohesion is primarily dependent on our being able to communicate in Scandinavian languages. If we change to English, we lose most of what unites us. In my opinion, if needs be, the use of an interpreter is a better option.

Understanding Scandinavian languages certainly demands effort, but significantly less than learning an entirely new language. Hints and advice for anyone participating in Nordic cooperation can be found in the small publication Att förstå varandra i Norden, which I wrote together with my colleague Catharina Grünbaum.

The history of language cooperation is presented in the publication Guldtavlorna i gräset.