The Finnish Alfred Kordelin Foundation, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, has awarded Professor Anneli Sarhimaa the Alfred Kordelin Award of 30,000 euro based on her scientific achievements and social activities for the benefit of linguistic minorities in Northern Europe. In the explanatory memorandum to the Award, the Kordelin Foundation states the following:
“ANNELI SARHIMAA, PROFESSOR OF NORTHERN EUROPEAN AND BALTIC LANGUAGES
Anneli Sarhimaa is a prominent researcher on multilingualism and minority languages in Northern Europe. Through her open-minded and analytical work, she has promoted linguistic sociological and community-based research on minority languages in Northern Europe. The focus of her research is on the Karelian language and the future prospects of Finnish Karelian speakers. The research is based on a strong knowledge of the field and work with the Karelian community. In this way, Sarhimaa has produced a wealth of new information about Karelians in Finland. At the same time, she has shown major shortcomings in Finland's current language legislation. Comprehensive knowledge based on his research work is utilized in both academic and societal contexts.
Issues concerning minority language communities reflect the prevailing language policy in society more broadly. Sarhimaa’s key merits include developing remedial measures to maintain and enhance cultural diversity. Through her activities, she has significantly promoted the discussion on minority languages and language communities, broadened the terminology used in the discussion and thus provided a model for both researchers and the Finnish Karelian community.
Anneli Sarhimaa has been distinguished as a determined researcher working in the conditions of multidisciplinary science making, as well as an organizer and networker of research. Sarhimaa is Professor of Northern European and Baltic Languages at the University of Mainz in Germany. She has worked in Mainz for almost twenty years and has greatly contributed to the visibility of Finnish culture in Central Europe.”