Let us be proud of our Hungarian mother tongue!
- v. Balázs Róbert
- Aug 10
- 3 min read
Our mother tongue is among the most unique of all living languages in the world — and this is not our own assertion, but the unanimous conclusion of the greatest linguists.
A few years ago, the Sorbonne University in France conducted research to determine which language had preserved the largest proportion of elements from ancient culture — that is, the original root words, or etymons. The result was quite surprising: modern English contains 4% etymons, Latin 5%, Hebrew 5%, the Pacific languages 7%, the Indian Mundakhol 9%, Tibetan Sanskrit 12%, Proto-Turkic and Turkmen 26%, while modern Hungarian contains an astonishing 68% ancient etymons.
The study clearly proved that the Hungarian language preserves more primordial roots than any other language in the world.
Why is the Hungarian language unique?
It is a fact that the Hungarian language differs from all other spoken languages. Of course, every language is unique in its own way, yet there is one feature that sets Hungarian apart — and this lies in its writing and mode of expression. Most Hungarian words are written exactly as they are pronounced. This, in itself, would not be particularly remarkable; what makes it truly exceptional is, on the one hand, the astonishing harmony and coherence of speech, and on the other, the clarity of its expressive power.
According to neuroscientists, the Hungarian language has preserved much of the ancient art of visual thinking: the evolution of our words and our metaphorical use of language bear witness to this. Visual thinking is, in many respects, more nuanced and greatly enhances comprehension.
There are thousands of living languages in the world. But what does our language mean to us?
It is the most important pillar of our existence — a solid foundation that carries our humanity, our family, our people, and our culture; everything that makes us Hungarian. The Hungarian language serves as the ferryman of the nation, navigating the realms of past, present, and future.
Today, around 14 to 15 million people speak our language across the globe. In terms of the number of speakers worldwide, Hungarian ranks 12th. According to data from the 1990s, it was taught in 78 universities across 23 countries.
The Hungarian language is a fertile ground for profound discoveries in depth psychology — a mirror of the workings of the human soul. Szerelem (love), védelem (protection), kegyelem (grace), félelem (fear), gyötrelem (torment), vonzalom (affection), szorgalom (diligence), fájdalom (pain), and vigalom (merriment): the more than eighty Hungarian words ending in “-elem” and “-alom” perfectly reflect the richness of what lies within us.
In the foreword to his volume of poetry Poetry of Magyar, the English linguist and man of letters, Sir John Bowring, wrote:
"The Hungarian language stands far above, alone. It has developed in an entirely distinctive manner, and the formation of its structure reaches back to times when most European languages did not yet exist. It is a language that has evolved independently, consistently, and firmly, imbued with logic — indeed with mathematics and strength — and endowed with all the flexibility and adaptability of sound. This language is the oldest and most splendid monument of national independence and intellectual self-reliance."
The famous English writer Bernard Shaw stated:
"I can boldly declare that, having studied the Hungarian language for years, I have become convinced that, had Hungarian been my mother tongue, my life’s work could have been far more valuable. Simply because in this peculiar, ancient, and vigorous language, one can describe the tiniest nuances and the secret stirrings of emotion with far greater precision."
The poet Ferenc Juhász professed:
"The Hungarian language is my existence, my future, and my hope."
Sándor Lénárd, a writer who lived and wrote in South America in Hungarian, said:
"The Hungarian language is like a musical instrument — whoever wishes to play it must practise every day."
"The Hungarian language was born from the singing of pagan women. It was the Wonder Stag who shook from its antlers the jewels of the forest, the red berries, so that they might become beautiful words."
These warm and beautiful words were written by Gyula Krúdy.
Let us be proud of our Hungarian mother tongue!
(Source: internet)
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