The Finn announced a boycott of the store after unsuccessful attempts to explain herself in her native language

A discussion broke out in Finland about whether residents of the country should receive services in Finnish. This is reported by the Rulehti publication with reference to Iltalehti.

The reason was a number of incidents in shops and cafes.

"In particular, a 62-year-old Finnish woman announced a boycott of the store after unsuccessful attempts to explain herself in her native language with employees. According to her, the situation in stores sometimes reaches the point of absurdity. One day she asked for a half-liter bottle of water (puoli litraa. — fin.), but the employee, not understanding her in Finnish, handed her an alcoholic drink — lonkero. Another time, instead of Jaffa soda, she was offered juice. After these cases, the woman decided to refuse to visit the Lidl store," the publication says.

According to the woman, in Finland, employees should at least try to speak Finnish, no one, they say, requires them to have a perfect command of the language, it is important, they say, the aspiration itself, since it is impossible to learn the language without practice.

The company, meanwhile, stated that they do not require employees to be fluent in Finnish — a basic level is sufficient to cope with everyday situations. In addition, there are always employees with a higher level of language in stores who can help.

The 53-year-old Helsinki resident also believes that Finnish should be the main language of service, especially taking into account older people who do not speak English, but calls for tolerance and mutual understanding. They say you can explain yourself with gestures, drawings, or using a translator on your smartphone.

In healthcare, the language issue is much more acute. Social Affairs Minister Ville Rydman previously called insufficient knowledge of the language a risk to the safety of patients, since even small details in communication can be critical.

"The discussion shows that society is divided: some insist on the right to receive services in Finnish, while others believe that flexibility and willingness to meet halfway are more important in the context of globalization," the publication says.

A little earlier, a similar discussion broke out after theology professor Jason Lepojarvi refused to speak English when ordering at a cafe at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, Iltalehti reported.

According to his professor, he deliberately did not use English, which is why the cafe employee had to call a colleague. As a result, the order was placed using gestures. Lepojarvi explained his position by saying that he is against the strengthening of the role of the English language in Finland and considers the use of Finnish important for the integration of migrants.

He was supported by Finance Minister Riikka Purra, saying that English should not displace the official languages.

MP Yani Myakelya also spoke in favor of the need to know the Finnish language, and some commentators recalled that English actually serves as the language of communication in the international environment.

The situation escalated into a broader dispute about the role of the national language in the context of globalization and the limits of its protection in everyday life, the publication noted.