I am Associate Professor (tenure track) of French at the University of Helsinki.

My research areas are politeness, address forms and inclusive language use. My studies are often contrastive (French/Finnish). In my  international project (2022–25), we study interruptions in Finnish, French and German parliamentary debates (collaboration with ENS Lyon and Cambridge, UK). In my research project funded by Kone Foundation, I examined Finnish and French politeness (2017–19). The results of my project are gathered in my scientific book Miten tutkia kohteliaisuutta? Käsityksiä suomalaisesta ja ranskalaisesta kohteliaisuudesta [How to study politeness? Perceptions of Finnish and French politeness] (2023, SKS). In my doctoral thesis, I studied address forms in French films and their translations in Finnish subtitles (2010). I have edited wit Hanna Lappalainen kanssa the book Saako sinutella vai täytyykö teititellä? Tutkimuksia eurooppalaisten kielten puhuttelukäytännöistä [Addressing people with T or V? Studies of European address practicies] (2015, SKS). My research articles have been published in respected international journals (e.g. Journal of Pragmatics, Journal of Politeness Research, Pragmatics and Society, Journal of Historical Pragmatics and Contrastive Pragmatics

I have written with Camilla Lindholm three guide books, that is on co-authoring (Yhteiskirjoittaminen – Vuorovedoin kirkkaaseen tekstiin (2025, Art House), social writing (Yhteisöllisen kirjoittamisen opas, 2023, Art House) and academic career after the PhD (Väitöksen jälkeen: opas akateemiselle uralle, 2021, Art House). My areas of interest are academic writing and especially social writing. We have given with Lindholm keynotes and workshops for doctoral students on academic career and writing in different universities.

I have served many years as a University Lecturer in universities of Helsinki and Turku. I have taught about 30 different courses of university level. I direct PhD thesis and MA thesis . I completed 60 credits of Teachers' pedagogical studies oriented towards adult education and 40 credits of Advanced studies in education (especially in subject didactics of foreign languages) at the University of Helsinki. 

I am an active science communicator. I regularly interviews about my research in media. I write a blog (in Finnish), I release my own podcast Ranskaa raakana! and communicate in social media, such as X (@johannaisosavi). I have also released with Camilla Lindholm the podcast Väitöksen jälkeen with 12 episodes.