Did Hungarians Living in Transylvania Before Trianon Know Romanian?
Before the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, which redrew borders in Central and Eastern Europe after World War I, the region of Transylvania was part of Hungary. The population of Transylvania was ethnically diverse, including a significant number of Hungarians, Romanians, Saxons, and others. Hungarians living in Transylvania generally spoke Hungarian as their primary language. However, the extent to which they knew Romanian varied based on several factors including geographical location, social and economic factors, and education.
Factors Influencing the Knowledge of Romanian Among Hungarians in Transylvania
Geographical Location: In areas with a higher concentration of Romanians, such as rural regions, Hungarians might have had more exposure to the Romanian language due to everyday interactions, trade, and community relations. For instance, in the countryside, Romanians and Hungarians might exchange goods and services, leading to a mutual need to understand each other. This practical exposure could improve their knowledge of each other's languages.
Social and Economic Factors: Those involved in commerce or local governance may have learned Romanian to facilitate business and communication with Romanian-speaking populations. For example, shopkeepers, merchants, and local officials would need to interact with both Hungarian and Romanian speakers to effectively manage their daily tasks and community responsibilities.
Education: The language of instruction in schools was predominantly Hungarian, especially in areas where Hungarians formed the majority. However, in mixed communities, some schools offered Romanian language classes. This provided a formal avenue for Hungarians to learn Romanian, but the level of fluency would vary widely between these settings.
Special Considerations for Language Proficiency Among Hungarians in Transylvania
Cultural Exchange: In urban centers and mixed communities, cultural and social interactions could lead to a greater familiarity with Romanian among Hungarians, especially among the younger generations. Urban areas often served as melting pots where various ethnic groups interacted more frequently, creating an environment conducive to language exchange.
Moreover, it is worth noting that quite likely, Hungarian settlers in Transylvania also had to know some German and Szekley. The German-speaking community and the Szekler people (a subgroup of Hungarians who speak a dialect) both lived in the region and had intersections with the Hungarian community. Hence, knowledge of these languages was somewhat necessary for social and economic interactions.
Implications and Context
It is important to recognize why Hungarians in Transylvania would have had to know Romanian. Although it is true that Romanians were in the minority—about 16% of the population of Hungary and 53% of Transylvania alone—the major cities of Transylvania and vast regions of Szekelyfold were overwhelmingly Hungarian. Romanian communities were concentrated mainly in the countryside and were primarily made up of peasants.
The Need for Romanian Knowledge: It was the Romanians that should have likely had to learn the language of the majority/country, which was Hungarian. However, practical and social necessity often led Hungarians to learn Romanian as well, especially in areas with significant Romanian populations or in situations where cross-ethnic communication was required.
In summary, while not all Hungarians in Transylvania were fluent in Romanian, many did have some knowledge of the language, driven by practical and social factors.