Nina Havumetsä

"Se, että kyse oli teatterista, oli tietysti selvää aseveljeyden molemmin puolin"

Introduction

"se, että kyse oli teatterista, oli tietysti selvää aseveljeyden molemmin puolin". Kirja-arvio Pekka Kujamäen teoksesta "Aseveljien tulkit". Tutkii jatkosodan monikielistä arkea ja aseveljeyden "teatteria". Syvällinen katsaus historian tulkintaan.

Abstract

Kirja-arvio teoksesta Kujamäki, Pekka 2023. Aseveljien tulkit: jatkosodan monikielinen arki. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura. 368 s. ISBN: 951-858-635-7. https://doi.org/10.21435/skst.1488

Review

The submitted piece is a scholarly book review engaging with Pekka Kujamäki's 2023 work, *Aseveljien tulkit: jatkosodan monikielinen arki* (Interpreters of Brothers-in-Arms: The Multilingual Everyday Life of the Continuation War). Kujamäki's book, published by the Finnish Literature Society, delves into the often-overlooked linguistic and intercultural dynamics of the Continuation War, specifically through the lens of interpreters and the everyday multilingual experiences of those involved in the "brotherhood-in-arms." The review's intriguing title, "Se, että kyse oli teatterista, oli tietysti selvää aseveljeyden molemmin puolin" ("That it was about theatre, was of course clear on both sides of the brotherhood-in-arms"), immediately signals a critical and interpretive stance. It suggests that the reviewer perceives Kujamäki's meticulous exploration of multilingual interactions as potentially unveiling a performative or constructed dimension inherent in the concept of "aseveljeys" itself. Given its evocative title, this review likely transcends a simple summary of Kujamäki's findings, instead offering a nuanced scholarly interpretation. The reviewer appears to leverage Kujamäki's detailed examination of how language and interpretation shaped daily realities during the war to critique or expand upon existing historical narratives surrounding the Finnish-German alliance. By focusing on the "theatrical" aspect, the review presumably argues that the official rhetoric and public image of "brotherhood-in-arms" diverged significantly from the complex, often messy, and negotiated realities of multilingual interactions on the ground. This perspective would highlight the critical role of linguistic intermediaries and everyday communication in either sustaining or undermining grand political narratives, thereby offering a valuable contribution to the historiography of the Continuation War and the study of wartime propaganda and identity construction. As a scholarly book review, this submission holds significant value for researchers interested in Finnish history, war studies, sociolinguistics, and cultural studies. It promises not only to introduce Kujamäki's important new work but also to provide a thought-provoking analytical framework through which to understand its implications. By critically engaging with the notion of "aseveljeys" through the lens of its "theatricality" and the insights provided by Kujamäki's research, the review is poised to stimulate further academic discussion and encourage deeper exploration into the constructed nature of historical alliances and identities. Its potential to offer fresh perspectives on a well-studied period makes it a valuable addition to the academic discourse.

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