Next year Oulu, Oulunsalo, Haukipudas, Yli-Ii ja Kiiminki are set to merge into "Greater Oulu." The new areas resulting from the merger will deserve equally great translations in Finland´s "third national language". A few years back, a number of Oulu´s locales were christened with English names when Matti Päivänsalo penned a book that pokes fun at Finnish place names. The book, titled Halinen = Little Hug ja 449 muuta paikannimeä kolmannella kotimaisella, contains translations such as Hiukkavaara (A Bit Danger), Karjasilta (Cattle Bridge), Kaukovainio (Long-Distance Field) and Puolivälinkangas (Knickers). Kaleva´s own now defuct Peto magazine even came up with a few names of its own: Alppila could be ´Alpineshire´, Etu-Lyötty might be phrased ´Frontbeatup´, Koskenniska became ´I Touch The Neck´ and Toppila was ´Women´s Wearshire´.
Now it is our readers´ turn to take a shot at picking a few English place names for the localities soon to be a part of Greater Oulu. E-mail your suggestions to verkkotoimitus@kaleva.fi.
Suggested translations for existing place names can be found at www.kaleva.fi/ookkonaa. Here are a few masterpieces of literal translation to get you started: Kello -- The Time, Martinniemi -- Cape Martin, Välikylä -- In-Between Village, Jääli -- Icyish, Papinjärvi -- Lake Of The Priest, Pellonpää -- Fieldhead, Kokkokangas -- Bonfire Canvas, Ahvenniemi -- Cape Bass.