Purpose of Work: The aim of this pilot study is to explore the significance of different local contexts for classification of the learning of a minority language, in this case the possibilities of applying the term second language on Finland Swedish in Finland.
Research Questions: Is it possible to use the term second language when learning Finland Swedish in different regional contexts in Finland? What are the theoretical implications of the results?
The Research Methods: The method is rational reconstruction. The included terminology and the context of its application are illustrated through a fictitious case study that is used as a heuristic tool.
The Material: Official national documents.
The Result: The results show that contextual prerequisites differ considerably between varieties of Finland Swedish in Finland and that these differences are crucial for adequate terminological choices. Examples of this are that there are no clear cases when the learning of Finland Swedish can be accounted as second language learning. Åland and Nerpes are examples of these unclear cases while Helsinki is an example of a case where second language learning is impossible. The results indicate that there is a need for more research on the applicability of common linguistic terminology on small minority languages.
The Scope of the Results and Research Prospects: The results point out the need of new research in order to develop a more contextual sensitive terminology in case of small minority languages.