# Institute for the Languages of Finland

> governmental linguistic research institute of Finland

**Wikidata**: [Q3361959](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3361959)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_the_Languages_of_Finland)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/institute-for-the-languages-of-finland

## Summary
The Institute for the Languages of Finland is a governmental linguistic research institute of Finland officially known as "Kotimaisten kielten keskus" (short name: Kotus). Established in 1976, it operates under the Ministry of Education and Culture and serves as the central authority for linguistic research and language services in the country.

## Key Facts
- Founded on March 1, 1976
- Official name is "Kotimaisten kielten keskus" (short name: Kotus)
- Located at Hakaniemenranta 6, Helsinki, Finland
- Employs approximately 67 people (as of 2024)
- Parent organization is the Ministry of Education and Culture
- Also known as Kotus, Kotimaisten kielten keskus, フィンランド先住民言語センター, and フィンランド国内諸言語研究所
- Maintains websites in Finnish (https://www.kotus.fi/), Swedish (https://www.sprakinstitutet.fi/), and English (https://en.kotus.fi/)
- ISNI identifier: 0000000109457291
- ROR ID: 00gbs4x54

## FAQs
### Q: What languages does the Institute for the Languages of Finland research?
A: The institute researches Finnish, Finland Swedish, Northern Sami, Inari Sami, Skolt Sami, Romani, Finnish Sign Language, and linguistics.

### Q: When was the Institute for the Languages of Finland founded?
A: The institute was founded on March 1, 1976.

### Q: Is the Institute for the Languages of Finland part of the Finnish government?
A: Yes, it is a governmental agency under the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland.

### Q: Where is the headquarters of the Institute for the Languages of Finland?
A: The headquarters is located in Helsinki, Finland, at Hakaniemenranta 6.

## Why It Matters
The Institute for the Languages of Finland plays a crucial role in preserving, developing, and promoting Finland's linguistic diversity and heritage. As a governmental research institute, it provides the foundation for language policy, education, and cultural preservation in Finland. The institute's work ensures that Finland's official languages (Finnish and Swedish) as well as minority and indigenous languages are properly documented, researched, and supported. This helps maintain linguistic diversity in an increasingly globalized world and provides essential resources for language teachers, students, researchers, and policymakers.

## Notable For
- Comprehensive research on all of Finland's official languages (Finnish, Swedish) as well as indigenous Sámi languages, Romani, and Finnish Sign Language
- Serves as the central authority for standard Finnish and provides expert guidance on language usage
- Houses extensive language databases and resources that are critical for linguistic research and education in Finland
- Operates under the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, giving it direct governmental authority and influence on language policy

## Body
### Overview
The Institute for the Languages of Finland (officially "Kotimaisten kielten keskus," short name: Kotus) is a governmental linguistic research institute established in 1976. It operates under the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland and serves as the central authority for linguistic research and language services in the country.

### Organizational Structure
The institute employs approximately 67 people as of 2024. It is a member of the Finnish Association for Scholarly Publishing. The previous name was "Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus" until January 1, 2012, when it changed to its current name.

### Research Areas
The institute's research focuses on:
- Finnish language
- Finland Swedish
- Northern Sami
- Inari Sami
- Skolt Sami
- Romani
- Finnish Sign Language
- General linguistics

### Digital Presence
The institute maintains a strong online presence with websites in Finnish, Swedish, and English. It has social media accounts on Twitter (@Kotus_tiedotus), Facebook (kotustiedotus), and YouTube (Kotus-kanava).

### Identification Information
- ISNI: 0000000109457291
- ROR ID: 00gbs4x54
- GRID ID: grid.460470.1
- VIAF ID: 276138137, 135913858
- EU Transparency Register ID: 121103912783-67
- Finnish Business ID: 0245872-8

### Location Details
Coordinates: 60.17854808919286, 24.954993640041
Previous headquarters: Vuorikatu 24, Kluuvi, Helsinki (no longer current)
Current headquarters: Hakaniemenranta 6, Helsinki, Finland

## References

1. [About us. Institute for the Languages of Finland](https://en.kotus.fi/kotus/#who-are-we)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240113111549/https://tiedekustantajat.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Tiedekustantajien-vuosi-2022.pdf)
5. [Historia. Institute for the Languages of Finland](https://kotus.fi/kotus/organisaatio/historia/)
6. ROR release v1.19
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. [Tilinpäätös 2024. Institute for the Languages of Finland](https://kotus.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Kotuksen_tilinpaatos_2024.pdf)
10. GRID Release 2016-12-06
11. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
12. YouTube API