A FINN SPEAKS ENGLISH

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21412, 2 March 1935, Page 14

A FINN SPEAKS ENGLISH

PERASALO DELIGHTS HIS AUDIENCE "OIK GREETINGS FROM FINLAND" It must be embarrassing. if not exasperating, for a distinguished visitor in a strange country to be given a formal welcome and have to sit on a lais listening to people making orations and offering compliments in a language of which he can hardly understand a word. The situation might seem a difficult one to cope with, but the Finnish athletic visitors, Matti Sippala and Veikko Perasalo, have mastered it admirably. They simply sat and smiled happily at the 80 or more amateur sportsmen who welcomed them yesterday. They had to do this for half an hour or more, but they managed very well, and at the end of the reception Perasalo delighted his audience by speaking in Finnish, simply to demonstrate the sound of the Finnish language. Captain Evan Hunter, manager of the visiting British and Finnish team, said that the Finns had learnt only as much English as British athletes had taught them.

Perasalo then demonstrated his progress in the study of English. "Our greetings from Finland," he said. Af.er applause he continued: "Ladies and gentlemen " Perasalo managed so much, and then, with some relief after a strenuous effort, he spoke in his native tongue, pointing to Sippala to indicate that he spoke for him too. He delighted the gathering by ending his speech with the remark "0.K.," and drinking an impromptu toast. He sat down, very pleased with his effort, amid much applause. The interpreter gave the assurance after the function that Perasalo had uttered nothing but praise and thanks for the reception he had been given. He had thanked the speakers for their remarks, which he was sure were kind, although he could not understand them, and he had stated that he could say nothing but good of the people of New Zealand. Christchurch, he had said, was the brightest and cleanest city in New Zealand.