Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical source

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Mangrove
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" - new translation

#211

Post by Mangrove » 14 Jan 2013, 20:48

CanKiwi2 wrote: Can anyone tell me his name in Finnish?
His rank and name are sotamies Susi ("Wolf"), a.k.a. Sus ("Wolf" in a dialect), a.k.a. Suen Tassu ("Wolf's Pawn" in a dialect).

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CanKiwi2
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" - new translation

#212

Post by CanKiwi2 » 14 Jan 2013, 20:58

Martti Kujansuu wrote:
CanKiwi2 wrote: Can anyone tell me his name in Finnish?
His rank and name are sotamies Susi ("Wolf"), a.k.a. Sus ("Wolf" in a dialect), a.k.a. Suen Tassu ("Wolf's Pawn" in a dialect).
Thx Martti. So his real name is "Susi" and Suen Tassu is more or less a nickname?
ex Ngāti Tumatauenga ("Tribe of the Maori War God") aka the New Zealand Army


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Juha Tompuri
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" - new translation

#213

Post by Juha Tompuri » 14 Jan 2013, 21:08

CanKiwi2 wrote:So his real name is "Susi" and Suen Tassu is more or less a nickname?
Yep, Tassu probably being a nickname for his first name.

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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#214

Post by Seppo Koivisto » 14 Jan 2013, 21:37

When I was a child one of our neighbours was a Karelian evacuee with the name Tahvo Susi. He was called Suren Tassu (in western Finland). I have always thought Tassu was a nickname for Tahvo, but could be e.g. Tauno also.

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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#215

Post by kuuskajaskari » 14 Jan 2013, 21:50

It can also be Taisto, as I knew a man who was called Bear`s Paw.

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CanKiwi2
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#216

Post by CanKiwi2 » 14 Jan 2013, 22:09

Thx everyone, you guys are really helpful :D
kuuskajaskari wrote:It can also be Taisto, as I knew a man who was called Bear`s Paw.
How would you say "Bear`s Paw" in Finnish? Outside of what I'm working on now, that sounds like a great nickname.
ex Ngāti Tumatauenga ("Tribe of the Maori War God") aka the New Zealand Army

Seppo Koivisto
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#217

Post by Seppo Koivisto » 15 Jan 2013, 00:12

CanKiwi2 wrote:How would you say "Bear`s Paw" in Finnish?
That would be "Karhun Tassu". Animal names were common surnames in Karelia.

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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#218

Post by Vaeltaja » 15 Jan 2013, 07:39

Karhunkäpälä would seem more likely, perhaps even mesikämmen.

Mangrove
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#219

Post by Mangrove » 15 Jan 2013, 09:10

Seppo Koivisto wrote:Animal names were common surnames in Karelia.
Animal names were already common as a nicknames for Finnish soldiers during the early 18th century, see
Mitä ruotusotamiesrullat kertovat nimistöntutkijalle: Suomen ruotusotamiesten lisänimistä.

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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#220

Post by kuuskajaskari » 15 Jan 2013, 10:08

Seppo Koivisto wrote:
CanKiwi2 wrote:How would you say "Bear`s Paw" in Finnish?
That would be "Karhun Tassu". Animal names were common surnames in Karelia.
Yep, he was called just like that.


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John Hilly
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#222

Post by John Hilly » 15 Jan 2013, 13:14

"Suen Tassu" was in real life Toivo Ruuna (Hope Gelding 8O ), who was a neighbor of Viljami Pylkäs aka. Antti Rokka from Sakkola, karelian Isthmus. Toivo, "Tassu" was a silent man always backing Pylkäs up.

More of Rokka, a must read for you Nigel:
http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viljam_Pylk%C3%A4s

With best
J-P :milwink:
"Die Blechtrommel trommelt noch!"

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CanKiwi2
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#223

Post by CanKiwi2 » 15 Jan 2013, 15:05

Thankyou everyone :D

And that last link was great. Liked the Bob Dylan link as well

Kiitos.......Nigel
ex Ngāti Tumatauenga ("Tribe of the Maori War God") aka the New Zealand Army

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CanKiwi2
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#224

Post by CanKiwi2 » 17 Jan 2013, 04:08

Another question: In the english-language translation, approx. P151, they have just occupied Petrozavodsk, have gone into town as part of the garrison and the first battalion is roaring drunk and busy plundering as the second battalion marches in.

At one street corner they pass a Captain and three privates, the captain is so drunk he cannot walk.
- Play, Hessu,splutter the captain. play From The White Sea To Ladoga Our Sword Shall Carve a Frontier, What er our fate we shall not falter....

Anyhow, question is, was this a WW2 Finnish song and what actually was it?
ex Ngāti Tumatauenga ("Tribe of the Maori War God") aka the New Zealand Army

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JTV
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Re: Väinö Linna's novel "Unknown Soldier" as a critical sour

#225

Post by JTV » 17 Jan 2013, 07:08

CanKiwi2 wrote:At one street corner they pass a Captain and three privates, the captain is so drunk he cannot walk.
- Play, Hessu,splutter the captain. play From The White Sea To Ladoga Our Sword Shall Carve a Frontier, What er our fate we shall not falter....

Anyhow, question is, was this a WW2 Finnish song and what actually was it?
Apparently "Me tahdomme" ("We want"), honorary march song of Akateeminen Karjala-seura (Academic Carelia Society):
http://www.makkara.info/laulut.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41HSgNpFYYI

Jarkko

EDIT: Typo fixed.
Last edited by JTV on 17 Jan 2013, 13:54, edited 1 time in total.

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