SV: Elite dominance theory vs. Practicality

[Lars Martin Fosse]

Tristan Jones [SMTP:Tristan at mail.scm-rpg.com.au] skrev 18. november 2000 01:01:

> 22 languages in Hungary, come on Hungary is only the size of Indiana state,
> 22 languages is a lot for a small region like that

Hungary covered a much bigger area before the First World War, but lost
more than half of it at the Peace of Trianon (still much regretted by
Hungarians). Before that period at least the following languages were
spoken on traditional Hungarian territory: Magyar, German, Slovakian,
Serbo-Kroat, Turkish and Rumanian. (The Turkish speakers of course
eventually left).  Until the 19th century, Latin was widely used, Magyar
only recently became the dominant language of the country (after about
1850). The Jews that came to Hungary in the 19th century may have spoken
several different languages, but were quickly Magyarized. Of course, after
Trianon, there are not many minority language speakers left.

Lars Martin Fosse

Dr. art. Lars Martin Fosse
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Email: lmfosse at online.no