Україністика в Угорщині

Abstract

The development of Ukrainian studies in Hungary is related to many factors, both political and cultural, such as historical contacts between the two peoples and their current state, the level and issues of Hungarian science, as well as interethnic processes in the countries, etc. As early as 1919–1924, sporadic classes in Ruthenian (Ukrainian) language and literature were held at the University of Budapest by Sandor Bonkalo, a researcher of the culture and literature of Ukrainian Ruthenians in Hungary at that time. The systematic teaching of the Ukrainian language began in Hungary after World War II at the Loránd Eötvös University of Budapest and continued, so to speak, in the shadow of Russian studies. Ukrainian studies flourished in the years after Ukraine gained its independence when universities in other major cities (Debrecen, Nyiregyhaza, Szeged) also opened a specialisation, developed textbooks, manuals, and dictionaries, conducted research, translated books, and organised conferences. The Department of Ukrainian and Ruthenian Language and Literature, established in 1993 and headed by I. Udvari, is also active up to this day. Other well-known Ukrainian and Slavic scholars include A. Zoltan, V. Lebovych, O. Kovacs, V. Shtefutsa, M. Kochish, E. Baran, and others. However, over time, interest in Ukrainian studies in Hungary has been declining, the number of students and teachers has been decreasing, hours have been reduced, and some universities have stopped teaching the Ukrainian language. At the same time, there are some positive trends in purely scientific activities related to the deepening of the problematic, joint work of scholars of the two countries, in particular, on the Transcarpathian theme, and the study of the Ukrainian-Hungarian contacts.