In this video from Norbert Wierzbicki, the creator of the Ecolinguist YouTube channel, the Võro dialect is compared with Finnish.
Wierzbicki says:
“…we explore similarities and differences between Võro and Finnish, examining the factors that contribute to their mutual intelligibility. Through engaging language challenges, we aim to showcase the linguistic connections and enhance our understanding of these unique languages.
Võro and Finnish are both Finno-Ugric languages belonging to the Uralic language family. Võro is primarily spoken in the southeastern region of Estonia, while Finnish is the official language of Finland. Despite being separate languages, they share a close linguistic relationship and exhibit mutual intelligibility to some extent.
Mutual intelligibility refers to the ability of speakers of closely related languages to understand each other to varying degrees without prior knowledge or extensive exposure. In the case of Võro and Finnish, speakers of one language may be able to comprehend certain words, phrases, or even entire sentences when listening to or reading the other language. This is due to the historical and linguistic similarities between the two languages.
Join us on this linguistic journey as we celebrate the rich diversity of Finno-Ugric languages and uncover the fascinating relationship between them. Whether you are a speaker of one language or simply interested in languages and their connections, this video offers an exciting exploration of mutual intelligibility and the intricate ties that bind Finno-Ugric languages together.”
