Questions & Answers about Puhun saksaa ja ranskaa.
This lesson is about using the translative case (-ksi) for languages. Why does this sentence use the partitive (saksaa, ranskaa)?
With the verb puhua (to speak), you typically use the partitive case to express that you have the general skill of speaking a language. You are treating the language as an ongoing object of the speaking action. The translative case (-ksi) is used when a language is the medium of communication, which is much more common with verbs like to write (kirjoittaa) or to say (sanoa).
Could I ever say Puhun saksaksi instead?
Yes, but it changes the meaning. Puhun saksaa means I speak German (referring to your general ability). Puhun saksaksi means I am speaking in German, focusing on the language as the specific tool or medium you are choosing to use right now in a conversation.
Why aren't the languages capitalized here like they are in English?
In Finnish, the names of languages are always written in lowercase, such as saksa and ranska. You only capitalize these words when you are referring to the names of the countries themselves (Saksa for Germany, Ranska for France).