Finnish Speakers Research Articles

Associations between maternal origin, breastfeeding and health service use: a mediation analysis

Abstract Background The influence of maternal health utilization on breastfeeding practices is well established. However, research shows that immigrant women tend to face challenges in accessing maternal health services. Our aim was to examine any variation in maternal and child health service utilization between immigrant and native-born mothers as well as to examine potential mediation roles of service utilization on the association between maternal origin and breastfeeding practices. Methods We used a nationwide FinChildren (2020) survey on parents with infants focusing on Somali (n = 29), Arabic (n = 81) and Russian speaking (n = 181) parents and their infants. We compared them with native Finnish speakers (n = 7508). We used Process Macro to conduct mediation analysis. Results Almost 25%/ of Somali-/Arabic-speaking mothers reported not taking their infants to routine child health clinic visits. The proportion was 0.4% for native-born mothers and 1.6% for Russian-speaking mothers (p < 0.001). Around 18% of Somali-/Arabic-speaking mothers and only 0.6% of the native-born mothers reported not utilizing child health clinic services in the past year (p < 0.001). Somali-/Arabic speaking mothers were more likely to receive breastfeeding support from maternity clinics and native-born mothers from maternity hospital or peer support groups. Russian-speaking mothers were most satisfied with the received child healthcare services while Somali/Arabic-speaking mothers were least satisfied with these services (p < 0.001). Only participating in breastfeeding peer support groups had mediation effects on association between maternal origin and breastfeeding practices. Conclusions This study shows that immigrants mothers, particularly Somali/Arabic speaking mothers use less the maternal health services particularly routine health visits. It is essential to encourage them to use the services to be able to monitor the health of both mother and the child. Key messages • Somali-/Arabic-speaking mothers are in a vulnerable position when it comes to utilizing healthcare services. • This study call for more research exploring factors contributing to this.

Earnings mobility across three generations of natives in Finland: A comparison of Finnish and Swedish speakers

We examine earnings mobility across three generations in Finland and compare two native groups with equal constitutional rights, Finnish speakers and Swedish speakers. Based on register data of the total population, we employ rank-rank regressions to assess the degree to which earnings in men relate to their fathers’ and paternal grandfathers’ earnings. We estimate regressions on the national level and in regions with Swedish-speaking population. The earnings rank of the grandfather is found to play a modest role net of the earnings rank of the father. Earnings mobility is higher in regions where the numerical minority of Swedish speakers is settled, but the two ethnolinguistic groups differ only in the Helsinki capital region, where earnings mobility is higher among the Swedish speakers. Less than one fifth of this ethnolinguistic gradient can be attributed to educational and other observed differences. These findings suggest that, in a geographically concentrated and well-performing ethnolinguistic group, social integration and networks may play a role in providing opportunities independently of parents’ achievements.

Better perceived health among the Swedish-speaking minority as compared with the Finnish-speaking majority in Finland: a cross-sectional study with an intergenerational perspective.

Previous research has shown that the Swedish speaking minority in Finland has slightly but significantly better health compared with the Finnish speaking majority. However, a clear explanation for this is lacking. The aim of the study was to explore differences of perceived health comparing three groups: Swedish speakers with reported dominance of Swedish also in the preceding generation; contemporary Finnish speakers with reported dominance of Finnish in the preceding generation and a group with a reported mixed-language structure of Finnish and Swedish between generations. Health and Social Support is an on-going population-based survey initiated in 1998 (N = 64,797), aimed at working-age adults. The present study is based on the 2012 follow-up survey, which included a question on the dominating language (Swedish or Finnish) of the respondents and their parents. The outcome was perceived health, which in this study was dichotomized to very good/good and intermediate/poor/very poor. The statistical analysis was carried with logistic regression, using SAS software. Age, gender and occupational training were included as covariates in the multivariable analysis. This study found that the Swedish-speaking group in Finland report better perceived health compared with the Finnish-speaking group (odds ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.57, p < 0.001). The health of the mixed language-speaking group fell between the other two groups. The results gave some support to a culturally mediated mechanism for the health advantage of Swedish speakers. Cultural features of Swedish-speaking groups in Finland may also support health promotion of the Finnish-speaking majority.

Native language advantage in electrical brain responses to speech sound changes in passive and active listening condition

It is not clear whether the brain can detect changes in native and non-native speech sounds in both unattended and attended conditions, but this information would be important to understand the nature of potential native language advantage in speech perception. We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) for changes in duration and in Chinese lexical tone in a repeated vowel /a/ in native speakers of Finnish and Chinese in passive and active listening conditions. ERP amplitudes reflecting deviance detection (mismatch negativity; MMN and N2b) and attentional shifts towards changes in speech sounds (P3a and P3b) were investigated. In the passive listening condition, duration changes elicited increased amplitude in the MMN latency window for both standard and deviant sounds in the Finnish speakers compared to the Chinese speakers, but no group differences were observed for P3a. In passive listening to lexical tones, P3a was increased in amplitude for both standard and deviant stimuli in Chinese speakers compared to Finnish speakers, but the groups did not differ in MMN. In active listening, both tone and duration changes elicited N2b and P3b, but the groups differed only in pattern of results for the deviant type. The results thus suggest an overall increased sensitivity to native speech sounds, especially in passive listening, while the mechanisms of change detection and attentional shifting seem to work well for both native and non-native speech sounds in the attentive mode.

Kielivalinnat ja kielenvaihtaminen ensikielisten ja ei-ensikielisten suomenpuhujien keskusteluissa – Kyselytutkimus

Immigration into Finland has increased in recent years. Learning Finnish is essential for integrating into Finnish society. We investigated L1 Finnish speakers’ language choices and language switching in everyday conversations with L2 Finnish speakers, and their reasoning for these choices. The data were gathered in an online survey with 358 respondents. The majority of L1 Finnish speakers reported starting conversations with L2 Finnish speakers in Finnish. However, 95% of respondents also reported switching the language of the conversation to English. The reported reasons were efficiency, speed, politeness and the desire to help. Most respondents also assumed that L2 Finnish speakers would react positively to the language switch. The results outline the need for mutual agreement on language choice and switching in everyday discussions. L1 Finnish speakers should understand the importance of offering possibilities to speak Finnish speakers should understand the importance of offering possibilities to speak Finnish to facilitate language learning and to ensure equality in discussions and aid participation in Finnish society.

Has the Prevalence of Creaky Voice Increased Among Finnish University Students From the 1990'S to the 2010'S?

Everyday observations indicate that creaky voice has become common in Finland in recent years. Previous studies suggest that this trend is also occurring in other countries. This cross-sectional study investigates the use of creaky voice among Finnish university students from the 1990's to the 2010's. Material was obtained from a sound archive. It consisted of 200 samples from normophonic speakers (95 males, 105 females; mean age 23.7 years, SD 3.3 years, range 19-35 years). Normophonia was checked by two speech therapists in a preliminary perceptual analysis. Thereafter, two voice specialists rated the amount of creak and strain. A scale of 0-4 was used (0=none, 4=a lot). The inter- and intrarater reliability for the listening evaluations were satisfactory (for creaky phonation, rho=0.611, P < 0.001 for interrater reliability and rho=0.540, P < 0.001 for intrarater reliability; for strain, rho=0.463, P < 0.001 and rho=0.697, P < 0.001 for inter- and intrarater reliability, respectively). These results revealed a significant increase in the amount of perceived creak in females (from 1.04, SD 0.69 to 1.55, SD 1.06; P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). In males, no significant change was found. However, the frequency of creaky voice use increased in both genders. No male speakers from the 1990's were rated as using "a lot" of creaky voice, but 2.3% of male speakers from the 2010's received this rating. Male speakers who were rated "quite a lot" increased from 5.9% in the 1990's to 18.1% in the 2010's. Female speakers rated "a lot" increased from 0% to 6%, and female speakers rated "quite a lot" increased from 7% to 25.8% over the studied time periods. Creaky phonation and strain correlated slightly in males (rho=0.24, P < 0.05) and moderately in females (rho=0.55, P < 0.001). Age did not correlate with the amount of creaky phonation (rho=0.005, P > 0.10 for males, rho=-0.011, P > 0.10 for females). It can be concluded that the prevalence of creaky voice has increased among young Finnish speakers, particularly females.

Impact of Native Language on Musical Working Memory

Music and language share similar sound features and cognitive processes, which may lead to bidirectional transfer effects of training in one domain on the processing in the other domain. We investigated the impact of native language on musical working memory by comparing nontonal language (Finnish) speakers and tonal language (Chinese) speakers. For both language backgrounds, musicians and nonmusicians were recruited. In an experimenter-monitored online paradigm, participants performed a forward-memory task measuring the maintenance of musical sequences, and a backward-memory task measuring the manipulation of musical sequences. We found that maintenance of music sequences was facilitated in Chinese participants compared with Finnish participants, with musicians outperforming nonmusicians. However, performance in the backward-memory task did not differ between Chinese and Finnish participants, independently of music expertise. The presence or absence of tonal structure in the musical sequences did not affect the advantage of Chinese over Finnish participants in either maintenance or manipulation of the musical sequences. Overall, these findings suggest that Mandarin Chinese speakers have facilitated maintenance of musical sounds, compared with Finnish speakers, regardless of musical expertise and the presence of tonal structure. Our study furthers the understanding of language-to-music transfer and provides insights into cross-cultural differences in music cognition.

Testing Two Online Symptom Checkers With Vulnerable Groups: Usability Study to Improve Cognitive Accessibility of eHealth Services.

The popularity of eHealth services has surged significantly, underscoring the importance of ensuring their usability and accessibility for users with diverse needs, characteristics, and capabilities. These services can pose cognitive demands, especially for individuals who are unwell, fatigued, or experiencing distress. Additionally, numerous potentially vulnerable groups, including older adults, are susceptible to digital exclusion and may encounter cognitive limitations related to perception, attention, memory, and language comprehension. Regrettably, many studies overlook the preferences and needs of user groups likely to encounter challenges associated with these cognitive aspects. This study primarily aims to gain a deeper understanding of cognitive accessibility in the practical context of eHealth services. Additionally, we aimed to identify the specific challenges that vulnerable groups encounter when using eHealth services and determine key considerations for testing these services with such groups. As a case study of eHealth services, we conducted qualitative usability testing on 2 online symptom checkers used in Finnish public primary care. A total of 13 participants from 3 distinct groups participated in the study: older adults, individuals with mild intellectual disabilities, and nonnative Finnish speakers. The primary research methods used were the thinking-aloud method, questionnaires, and semistructured interviews. We found that potentially vulnerable groups encountered numerous issues with the tested services, with similar problems observed across all 3 groups. Specifically, clarity and the use of terminology posed significant challenges. The services overwhelmed users with excessive information and choices, while the terminology consisted of numerous complex medical terms that were difficult to understand. When conducting tests with vulnerable groups, it is crucial to carefully plan the sessions to avoid being overly lengthy, as these users often require more time to complete tasks. Additionally, testing with vulnerable groups proved to be quite efficient, with results likely to benefit a wider audience as well. Based on the findings of this study, it is evident that older adults, individuals with mild intellectual disability, and nonnative speakers may encounter cognitive challenges when using eHealth services, which can impede or slow down their use and make the services more difficult to navigate. In the worst-case scenario, these challenges may lead to errors in using the services. We recommend expanding the scope of testing to include a broader range of eHealth services with vulnerable groups, incorporating users with diverse characteristics and capabilities who are likely to encounter difficulties in cognitive accessibility.

“He speaks great English—For a guy from Moscow”: Language ideologies in NHL media

Ideologies about languages and countries are hard to shake, even in a multinational, multilingual setting like the National Hockey League (NHL) and the journalists who report on it. Despite its historical roots in Montréal and the dominance of Canadian and European players, the lingua franca of the NHL is English. In this work, we used qualitative analyses to examine players’, journalists’, and coaches’ attitudes toward languages other than English used on the ice. Across all groups, we found that Russian speakers were most likely to be assessed negatively, from being taciturn and unwilling to be interviewed (Frederickson, 2023) to being unlikely to speak good English (Keefe, 2023). Additionally, English-speaking players were more likely to associate positive sentiments with native North American English, Swedish, and Finnish speakers, but negative sentiments about Canadian French speakers and players from eastern European countries. Players and coaches also tended to be split on whether it was acceptable for other languages to be spoken in the locker room and on the ice. This work points to a fragmented in-group view of the acceptable language to use in professional hockey.

Socioeconomic Advantage or Community Attachment? A Register‐Based Study on the Difference in National Lutheran Church Affiliation Between Finnish and Swedish Speakers in Finland

AbstractSecularization theory has been challenged by research showing religious persistence and upswing in contexts across the world. In Europe, particularly in highly secular and historically religiously homogeneous Nordic settings, there has been little research, and representative data for minority groups are rare. We offer a pioneering study using national register data to study religious changes over the past five decades in Finland, where the two native ethnolinguistic groups—Finnish and Swedish speakers—offer a unique study context. We use register data with yearly information on every individual's religious affiliation to compare the two groups, exploring the mechanisms behind any differentials. Swedish speakers are found to be consistently more affiliated with the National Lutheran Church than Finnish speakers. This finding contradicts the expectation of modernization theory because the Swedish‐speaking population is, in some aspects, socioeconomically advantaged in Finnish society. The higher affiliation level of Swedish speakers can be partly explained by lower levels of internal migration, which is possibly driven by stronger community attachment. Our results suggest that community cohesion may help preserve the religious tradition of a minority group, even in the absence of socioeconomic disadvantages or threats from the majority.

First Partner Choice in a Native Minority: The Role of Own and Parental Ethnolinguistic Affiliation

Despite increasing diversity within many societies, ethnically endogamous unions remain common. In contexts where one ethnic minority has lived alongside the majority for centuries, understanding who partners with whom is central to understanding how ethnic boundaries are maintained or dissolved. This study examines the role of own and parental ethnolinguistic affiliation for the first partner choice in Finland. We provide a unique test of the relevance of ethnic endogamy across two generations, in a context where both groups are native, but one (Finnish speakers) overwhelmingly outnumbers the other (Swedish speakers). Using register data on the total population, we examine how a person’s ethnolinguistic affiliation and background affect the choice of the first cohabiting partner in terms of the partner’s ethnolinguistic affiliation and background. We apply discrete-time competing risk models for men and women born 1970–1983. Results indicate that Swedish-registered individuals with two Swedish-registered parents are, by far, the most likely to partner with another Swedish-registered person with endogamous background. Partnering with a Swedish-registered person with exogamous background is most likely among individuals who themselves come from mixed unions. Patterns are remarkably consistent across gender, and adjustments for education and residential area only marginally alter the results.

Boundary-crossing situations and the use of deictic verbs in Finnish and Estonian expressions of non-actual motion

ABSTRACT This article discusses the specific use of deictic verbs for encoding boundary-crossing situations in descriptions of non-actual motion, i.e. dynamic depictions of static spatial configurations (e.g. The road comes from the tunnel). We analyse data elicited with visual stimuli from speakers of Finnish and Estonian to show that venitive (‘come’) and andative (‘go’) deictic verbs tend to appear in boundary-crossing contexts of entering and exiting. This pattern applies to both actual and non-actual motion descriptions produced by the same speakers, thus showing pervasiveness in the expression of both concrete and abstract meanings. We suggest that this tendency can be interpreted in terms of functional deixis: motion (actual or non-actual) encoded in relation to the speaker’s visual and interactive circle of attention. Considering the relevance of spatial boundaries for event perception, boundary-crossing situations can be expected to show specific encoding patterns not only in the verb-framed languages, in which the expression of these situations typically requires the use of Path verbs, but also in the satellite-framed languages of the Talmian typology. Extensive variation between participants in our study indicates that in Finnish and Estonian, the use of deictic verbs in boundary-crossing situations is an optional strategy instead of a constraint.

Syntax in transition

This paper is an investigation of a language contact phenomenon currently taking place in Aanaar (Inari) Saami, an indigenous minority language of Finland. Aanaar Saami people have been in contact with Finnish speakers for centuries, so much so that the language community has become bilingual. This has resulted in the borrowing of both numerous Finnish loanwords and even some syntactic constructions into Aanaar Saami and seems to herald a larger change in the language. The present study focuses on a type of syntactic change called differential argument marking, which is examined in three Aanaar Saami clause types: transitive clauses, existential clauses, and passive verb clauses. Finnish exhibits complex argument marking, characterized by a total–partial distinction, whereas traditional Aanaar Saami does not have differential argument marking in subjects or objects. However, new Aanaar Saami shows multiple emergent types of differential argument marking that vary between individual speakers and, while clearly influenced by Finnish, do not always mirror their Finnish equivalents one-to-one. This, and the observation that differential argument marking is non-existent in older language materials, suggests that the phenomenon is recentFinnish influence.

Validation of the Acoustic Breathiness Index in Speakers of Finnish Language.

Breathiness (perception of turbulence noise in the voice) is one of the major components of hoarseness in dysphonic voices. This study aims to validate a multiparameter analysis tool, the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI), for quantification of breathiness in the speaking voice, including both sustained vowels and continuous speech. One hundred and eight speakers with dysphonia (28 M, 80 F, mean age 50, SD 15.4 years) and 87 non-dysphonic controls (18 M, 69 F, mean age 42, SD 14 years) volunteered as participants. They read a standard text and sustained vowel /a:/. Acoustic recordings were made using a head-mounted microphone. Acoustic samples were evaluated perceptually by nine voice experts of different backgrounds (speech therapists, vocologists and laryngologists). Breathiness (B) from the GRBAS scale was rated. Headphones were used in the perceptual analysis. The dysphonic and non-dysphonic speakers differed significantly from each other in the auditory perceptual evaluation of breathiness. A significant difference was also found for ABI, which had a mean value of 2.26 (SD 1.15) for non-dysphonic and 3.07 (SD 1.75) for dysphonic speakers. ABI correlated strongly with B (rs = 0.823, p = 0.01). ABI's power to distinguish the groups was high (88.6%). The highest sensitivity and specificity of ABI (80%) was obtained at threshold value 2.68. ABI is a valid tool for differentiating breathiness in non-dysphonic and dysphonic speakers of Finnish.

Navigating whiteness from the margins: Finnish, Somali, and Arabic speakers’ experiences of racialization, (in)visibility, and (im)mobility in Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between language, (in)visibility, and (im)mobility in racialized spaces, focusing on Finnish, Somali, and Arabic speakers in Sweden. Using a theoretical framework based on hegemonic whiteness and intersectionality, the study explores how multilingual practices and subjectivities intersect with race, religion, gender, and class to shape social visibility and mobility. The research draws on linguistic ethnographic data, including interviews, linguistic landscape documentation, and an analysis of the media discourse. The study finds that while Finnish speakers have become invisible due to assimilation policies, Somali and Arabic speakers are hypervisible in Swedish public spaces and discourse, although Arabic speakers are sometimes, and in relation to other migrants, nearing Swedish whiteness. However, all three languages and their speakers are constrained by a white normativity that reproduces inequality. The paper challenges simplistic notions of mobility/immobility and visibility/invisibility in the context of a changing racial order in Sweden, where whiteness serves as a binary sorting mechanism that perpetuates inequality. Overall, this research sheds light on the complex entanglement of language, visibility, and mobility in white spaces and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the intersectional dynamics of race and language.

Ålanders Knowing Finnish: A Necessity or a Threat to Autonomy? The Ålandic Language Debate of 1968

Abstract The autonomy created for Åland in 1920 along with the linguistic and cultural guarantees stipulated in the 1921 Åland Agreement established Åland as a monolingual Swedish-speaking province within otherwise bilingual Finland. In particular, the Ålandic municipalities could themselves decide whether Finnish was to be taught in their primary schools. One hundred years later, Åland is still monolingually Swedish-speaking. The Finnish language, however, has been a hotly debated topic on Åland over the years. This article examines the status of the Swedish and Finnish languages that was established by the Autonomy Act and the Åland Agreement and explores the degree to which the Finnish language was present in Ålandic society during the first decades of the autonomy. The arguments and ideas presented in one particular political dispute that took place in 1968 between the speaker of the legislative assembly, Thorvald “Thusse” Eriksson, and the premier of the provincial government, Martin Isaksson, are then analyzed in more detail. The debate was precipitated by, among other things, an upcoming reform of the school system that called attention to the question of whether Finnish were to be taught in Ålandic schools. Eriksson and Isaksson disagreed on what attitude Åland should have toward Finland, Finnish speakers, and the Finnish language and on whether Finnicization was a threat to Åland. Eriksson saw any intrusion of the Finnish language as a threat to Åland's autonomy, while Isaksson believed Ålanders had to know some Finnish to be competitive on the job market. The overall aim of the article is to broaden our understanding of how ideas and perceptions related to language and autonomy have developed over time on Åland and to put them in a broader perspective through the use of the concept of societal cultures.

Ruotsi toisena kansalliskielenä kielellisesti muuttuvassa Suomessa

The aim of the article is to present language ideologies about Swedish as the other national language in Finland. The article focuses on Swedish-medium basic education for first language speakers but also highlights ideologies about Swedish and bilingualism in Swedish-medium speech island schools for Swedish speakers and in Swedish immersion education for Finnish speakers in Finnish-medium schools. Based on selected studies and reports, the article investigates attitudes towards the Swedish language and the Swedish-speaking population of Finland. The review shows that the position of Swedish is still controversial in Finland. Furthermore, the Swedish-medium education has a significant role for the status of Swedish in society. The language ideologies about Swedish in speech island schools and in immersion are linked to maintaining the language and including it as a part of individual or societal bilingualism.

Geographical immobility and local ancestral ties: a study of three generations of natives in Finland

ABSTRACT Research concerning internal migration has increasingly recognized family members outside the household as important factors for mobility decisions. Older generations and familiar environments constitute strong attractors thanks to location-specific capital and exchange of multigenerational support. Less is known about geographical immobility across generations. Wee study immobility patterns across three generations of native Finns by examining population register data that span over five decades. We analyse how geographical immobility in terms of a person’s place of residence at age 35 vs age 14 relates to the place of birth of their parents and grandparents. In this regard, Finland offers a highly useful case study because of its two main ethnolinguistic groups, Finnish and Swedish speakers, which are characterized by historically different mobility patterns and geographical concentrations. We find that geographical immobility relates strongly to local ancestral ties, that geographical immobility is much more common among Swedish than Finnish speakers, that the association between local ancestral ties and geographical immobility is stronger for Swedish than for Finnish speakers, and that it differs across geographical areas with different ethnolinguistic profiles. In terms of effect sizes, local ancestral ties have a large role in immobility behaviour, equally important as many socioeconomic and demographic factors.

The Influence of immigration on breastfeeding: Results from the FinChildren survey

Abstract Background Breastfeeding (BF) is essential to health promotion, disease prevention, and diminishing health inequalities. Recent studies in the Nordic countries revealed suboptimal BF practices among immigrants. Our aim is, first time in Finland, to quantitatively examine breastfeeding practices and sociodemographic characteristics of immigrants in comparison with natives. Methods We use a nationwide FinChildren (2020) survey on parents with infants, focusing on Somali- (n = 29), Arabic- (n = 81) and Russian speaking (n = 181) parents and their infants. We compared them with native Finnish speakers (n = 7508) using logistic regression and adjusting for confounders. Results Somali/Arab mothers had lower educational level, had higher BMI, were younger in age, and had more often C-sections. Proportions of both exclusive and any breastfeeding at 4-5 months were lower among Somali/Arabic speaking mothers (14% and 97%, respectively) compared to native Finnish (39% and 99%, respectively) and to Russian speaking mothers (41% and 98%, respectively). The difference in proportions of any BF between groups was not statistically significant. In the regression models fitted, being a Somali/Arabic speaking mother alone increased the odds of non-exclusive BF at 4-5 months fourfold (aOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.07, 0.72). Over 30% of Somali/Arab mothers had planned to mix feed their infants during antenatal period. This was inversely associated with exclusive BF at 4-5 months (aOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.11, 0.18) in the adjusted model. Conclusions Both exclusive and any BF were more common amongst native Finnish and Russian speaking mothers compared with Somali/Arabic speaking mothers. This study suggests the need for culturally sensitive interventions to promote BF amongst immigrants from outside Europe and to minimise any health inequality resulted from it. Key messages • This study found suboptimal breastfeeding practices amongst immigrant groups from outside Europe. Hence, it emphasizes the need for future research to further examine this pattern. • Results of the present study emphasize the need for culturally sensitive breastfeeding interventions to prevent health inequalities in early nutrition.

A comparative study of automatic vowel articulation index and auditory-perceptual assessments of speech intelligibility in Parkinson’s disease

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between automatic vowel articulation index (aVAI) and direct magnitude estimation (DME) among speakers with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and healthy controls. We further analysed the potential of aVAI to serve as an objective measure of speech impairment in the clinical setting. Method Speech samples from native Finnish speakers were utilised. Expert raters utilised DME to scale the intelligibility of speech samples. aVAI scores for PD speakers and healthy control speakers were analysed in relationship to DME speech intelligibility ratings and, among PD speakers, disease stage utilising nonparametric statistical analysis. Result Mean DME intelligibility ratings were lower among PD speakers compared to healthy controls. Mean aVAI scores were nearly the same between speaker groups. DME intelligibility ratings and aVAI were strongly correlated within the PD speaker group. aVAI and DME intelligibility ratings were moderately correlated with disease stage as measured by the Hoehn and Yahr scale. Conclusion aVAI was observed to be a promising tool for analysing vowel articulation in PD speakers. Further research is warranted on the application of aVAI as an objective measure of severity of speech impairment in the clinical setting, with varying patient populations and speech samples.