The current article aims to situate translation and translated language in an overall framework of the development of written Finnish during the 19th century. First the author provides an outline of Finnish translation history and the nature and role of translation during the first half of the 19th century. Next the author moves on to cast a look at the translating situation during the latter half of the century. The author's main focus is to relate the shifts in translational language to the position of the translators and to translation criticism. The overall framework is that of literary translation.