Hungarian as a minority and majority language in different language policy contexts

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study primarily focuses on the situation of Hungarians in minority situations in relation to language varieties, i.e. it interprets the various language policy issues primarily in the context of the Hungarian-speaking community, rather than in the context of Hungary, where the place, role and relationship between standard and non-standard language dialects play a prominent role. In most cases, the preservation of Hungarian identity is equivalent to the preservation of non-standard language varieties, in relation to which several language policy and language planning issues arise. The aim of the study is twofold. On the one hand, it aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the language policy situation of the Hungarian language and the Hungarian language community, especially with regard to the Hungarian autochthonous minority of about 3 million people who live in the countries neighbouring Hungary. On the other hand, the study describes the language policy role of dialects and the related attitudes from the perspective of the entire Hungarian language community, addressing the macro-, meso- and micro-level language planning possibilities.KEYWORDS: Hungarian dialectsnon-dominant languagesmicro- and macro-level language planningHungarian language minoritydiglossia Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 According to the latest census data, the number of Hungarians living outside the borders is 1.8–1.9 million. However, there are many Hungarians who are afraid of the negative consequences linked to their nationality and therefore decide to identify themselves as members of the majority nationality instead of the Hungarian minority.2 The summary analysis in this unit is based on public reports and recommendations published on the website of the Council of Europe (see https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-charter-regional-or-minority-languages/reports-and-recommendations).3 Although, there are often formal legal mechanisms for the protection of Hungarian, the subordinated position of the minority language, as well as the prestige and instrumentality of the state languages for vertical mobility within nation-states throughout Europe affects the reduction of the number of minority members (Trudgill, Citation2004). The factors contributing to this negative trend are also the increased number of mixed marriages, the immigration of the Hungarian population is high (in this regard, see Hungarian Citizenship Law 2010), at the same time the birth rate is low.Additional informationNotes on contributorsIstván JánkIstván Jánk is a senior lecturer at Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Eger, Hungary and a Research Fellow at the Research Centre for Language Planning, Institute of Hungarian Research, Budapest, Hungary. His research interests include language policy and sociolinguistics especially linguistic discrimination in the education.Szilvia RásiSzilvia Rási is a doctoral student at Eszterházy Károly Catholic University, Eger, Hungary and an Assistant Research Fellow at the Research Centre for Language Planning, Institute of Hungarian Research, Budapest, Hungary. Her research interests include language policy and planning, Hungarian dialects and academic writing in higher education.