Translation and language services
The Prime Minister’s Office provides translation and language services for all ministries. Translated texts include government proposals, legislation, press releases, website texts, ministers’ speeches and other documents. The Translation and Language Division at the Prime Minister's Office produces translations into Swedish, English and Russian and procures translations into other languages from external service providers.
The Translation and Language Division is also responsible for the Government’s terminology work, which includes issuing recommendations on the use of terms in different languages, providing free advice on the terminology used in government texts and maintaining the Government Termbank Valter. In addition, the Translation and Language Division draws up guidelines to support language use and develops the quality of the administrative language used by the ministries.
The Secretariat of the Swedish Language Board also operates from the Prime Minister’s Office. Its mandate is to foster clarity and comprehensibility in the legal and administrative Swedish used in Finland. The Swedish Language Board publishes Språkråd magazine.
More information
Glossaries and terminology service
The aim of terminology work at the Prime Minister's Office is to harmonise terminology across the government, both in the national languages of Finland and in foreign languages, and to promote clear communication. We also provide advice on the use of government terms free of charge.
Swedish Language Board
The Swedish Language Board serves as a coordinating body for questions related to the use of Swedish by government authorities.
Current issues
NATO Glossary and Swedish Legal Language in Finland glossary update published in Valter Termbank
Third edition of NATO Glossary concludes terminology project
Extended version of NATO Glossary published
New NATO Glossary lists organisation names in Finnish and Swedish
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Svenskt lagspråk i Finland handbook
The Svenskt lagspråk i Finland (Slaf) handbook describes how laws and regulations are drafted and presents the most important sources and tools used when translating legal texts into Swedish.
Hyvin suunniteltu, puoliksi kirjoitettu – opas julkishallinnon tekstintekijöille
This Finnish-language guide provides practical advice on how to make administrative texts clear, easy to understand and accessible to all readers.