9 amazing facts about the Hungarian language that most people don’t know
The szabadonebredok.com is collected 9 interesting things about the Hungarian language:
1. Did you know that one of the earliest remaining fragments of the Hungarian language was found in Nova Scotia, Canada?
Yarmouth County Museum in Nova Scotia keeps a unique artifact – Runic Stone, which proves that at least one Hungarian was in America before Columbus. Tyrkir, who accompanied Vikings on the voyage of the great discoveries around the year 1000, was Hungarian. Samuel Laing has first disclosed this information about Tyrkir back in 1844, in London. Tyrkir carved in stone a 13-character inscription. Many theories and centuries later linguists denied the Norse Rune theory. The text on the stone was not written with a Runic alphabet, but in the Old Hungarian. In 1984 Szilva Lajosné has translated the infamous inscription – Ericson járt e hejen is sok társával.
2. Did you know that one of the most valuable incunabulum in the Library of the British Museum in London has a following opening sentence –“Az Ephesom helyeknek yrth Zent Pál levelének elsew capitoliuma”.
The text, which is written in Hungarian, is a part of the book that was published in 1533.
3. Did you know that a group of linguists from the Department of Linguistics and Phonetics of Sorbonne University decided to conduct an antiquity exam of the several languages?
With a help of modern technologies and necessary tools scientists decided to establish which languages has preserved the most ancient elements of literacy and has the most etymons (the linguistic form from which another form is historically derived). According to the results: modern English contains 4% of etymons, Latin 5%, Hebrew 5%, the Pacific languages 7%, Indian languages 9%, Tibetan Sanskrit 12%, ancient Turkish and Turkmen 26%; however the language that contains the most of etymons is modern Hungarian – 68%!
4. Did you know that linguists put a huge emphasis on the question of antiquity of modern languages?
They conduct scientific research analyzing ancient ancestors and range of evidences from the tests. The Hungarian linguists, historians, professors have been working on that matter for over than 200 years. Everyone from Kerestesi József, Horváth István, Kőrösi Csoma Sándor, Táncsis Mihály, Varga Zsigmond, Pass László and many other inspiring Hungarian professionals have shown impressive dedication in conducting the antiquity examinations of the Euroasiatic languages. KeményFerenc is a linguist (he understands 40 languages and speaks 15) claims that the oldest of the Euroasiatic languages is the Hungarian language.
5. Did you know that Hungarian family names have been used as the geographical names in many places all over the world?
Dr. Vámos-Tóth Bátor, who lives on Hawaii Islands, and his colleagues have done a great job collecting examples of the Hungarian names and words used in the countries on all across the globe. They have established that over 6000 locations have Hungarian names. There are many examples of the Hungarian names given to geographic locations, cities, smaller towns, rivers, and hills in India, Iraq, Malta, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Philippines, and Caucasus region, alongside Udmurtia. The most common names are: Almás, Káldi, Kocsis, and Vajas.
6. Did you know that Sir John Bowring, who was an English political economist, traveller, polyglot and a 4th Governor of Hong Kong, spoke fluent Hungarian?
He translated many Hungarian poems into English -the book title was “Poetry of Magyars”. As a foreword of the book he wrote the following :” The Magyar language stands afar off and alone. The study of other tongues will be found of exceedingly little use towards its right understanding. It is molded in a form essentially its own, and its construction and composition may be safely referred to an epoch when most of the living tongues of Europe either had no existence, or no influence on the Hungarian region.”
7. Did you know that the Hungarian language is one of a kind in term of Effects of Compression on language?
There is no denial about this language being a truly unique linguistic phenomenon. The Hungarian language is very rich, and has absolutely unique phonetics of the consonants. Alongside 19 noun cases, numerous suffixes, prefixes, and verb conjugation.
8. Did you know that in the Western countries alphabet usually contains around 7 vowels?
For example, in Italy there are only 5.Whereas the Hungarian language recognizes and uses 14 vowels: a-á, e-é, i-I, o-ó, ö-ő, u-ú, ü-ű.
9. Did you know that in the list of the most melodic languages first comes the Italian language, followed by the Greek and the third most melodic language is the Hungarian?
Giuseppe Mezzofanti, who was an Italian cardinal and famous linguist and hyper polyglot (he could write in 58 languages and could speak 103 languages), once said to the Czech linguist, Ludwig August Frankl: “Do you know which language is equal to Latin and Greek in its structure and rhythmic harmony? It is the Hungarian language. I am familiar with the new Hungarian poets, whose verses are completely mesmerizing. Let us watch the future, for the poetic genius will have a sudden upswing, which will prove my statement to be true. It seem as if the Hungarians themselves do not realize what a treasure is hidden in their language.”
translated by Ekaterina Egorova
Source: szabadonebredok.hu
31 Comments
It is wonderful!
Sok van mi csodálatos,…. de a Magyar nyelvnél nincs semi csodálatosabb!
WOW~ I am impressed! Egen…
Magyar nyelvtől szebb nincs, nagyon is kifejező, és még fokozni is lehet.
A legszebb versek amit magyar koltok irtak: szinte lehetetlen mas nyelvre leforditani. Nem talalni megfelelo szot. Felnott korban szinte lehetetlen elsajatitani.
Gyonyoru a mi nyelvunk. <3
Source: szabadonebredok.hu.
K, thanx, bye
The 1. is a hoax. For those who speak Hungarian please check http://www.nyest.hu/hirek/a-rejtelyes-yarmouti-nyelvemlek
3. It is due to the fact that HUngarian was reformed only in the XIX century
4. For a serious linguistic “older or oldest” language makes no sense. Can be an older or oldest document, but NOT the language itself.
8. 7 voyels, and for each long and short. Only a-á and e-é have different sounds, so basically there are 9 voyel sounds.
We have not to exaggerate, come on! Hungarian is a really beautiful and amazing language by itself.
Great artical but I can’t get past the first one…. Yarmouth is in Nova Scotia CANADA not Newfoundland!
Newfoundland like Nova Scotia is a province.
Speaking multiple languages does not a linguist make. It is entirely possible to speak many languages with out ever studying linguistics, and it is entirely possibly to study linguistics without speaking more than one or two languages (though admittedly the latter is somewhat rare). Giuseppe Mezzofanti is only believed to have been fluent in 38 languages (Impressive in and of itself, but not the same as speaking 103 languages) and is said to have dabbled in additional languages, mostly so he could take confessions, depending on the source and how you count language vs dialect he is credited with anywhere from 40ish to 118 or so.
This whole article feels more like a high school presentation rather than a professional news article.
meg senki se tudja bisztosan de az bisztos hogy sok itt szuletett gyerek nem beszeli a magyart ez a szulok hibaja mert az nagymama vagy nagytata nem beszel angolul a gyerek csak angolul mama tata megkel tanuljon ango lul ami nehez minden nyelv nehez mindenkinek azt kivanok erot es bekeseget nem gyuloletet mert az elet nagyon rovid sok nyelv van a vilagon mindenkinek a sajat nyelve az igazi minden nemzetet kel szeresunk nem a nemzet hanem a szereted mind egyformak vagyunk akarmilyen nemzet vagy mindenkinek a halal egyforma van aki fiatalon van aki idosen ez nem mindegy de ha osze tartunk minden nemzettel akor sikerul sokmindent megoldani mi nagyon sokat adomanyosztunk visza kaptuk nagyon sok belyeget es elismerest mindeki naponta egy doolar nagy segitseg lehet majd egyszer mi is ra szorulunk udvozlettel laszlo flushing ny
6. Poetry of Magyar. Nem letezik.
Poetry of Magyars igen.
10. Did you know that for years (and still on) millions of computer programmers use the so called “Hungarian notation”?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_notation
Dear Marpio!
Maybe the voyels long or short but that different is mean a lot!
For examle : megörül or megőrül!
Two very different things!
As is two different voyels.
So is matter! 🙂
Have a good day!
Gabriell N
Good for you ,and us
HUNGARIANS
told of that Marpio person
Pure envious intentions
YES it’s so true how unique
Are language is
So stay away !!!
I am Hungarian and I have to say I completely agree with marpio. This article contains several pieces of wrong information as well as half truths (and spelling errors)..
This article above is much more meritorious than some of its critics, who may be well meaning, seem to realize. Unfortunately, many a comment suffers from an extraordinary lack of mastery of the tongue in which it is written.
“Somika 87” makes no sense whatever.
“Marpio”: I wouldn’t jump the gun on No. 1, for, its counterargument hasn’t been substantiated.
“JGardner”: “with out” is a dead giveaway of the likelihood that you ain’t no lingiust. Further, your knitpicking of the number of languages the Italian cardinal spoke has no bearing on the validity of his opinion.
“Laszlo Salamon”:Your phylosophical thoughts are appreciated, but your butchering my native Hungarian language — quite to the contrary. May I suggest that next time you write in some other language?
“Gabriella Nagy”: Would you, please, ask “Marpio” what “voyel” sound are?… :
:
@Gusztav Veres: Well, if spelling mistakes are “a dead giveaway”, then your “knitpicking” and “phylosophical” show you’re no expert on languages, either.
sziasztok, ezt most talaltam: http://szkeptikus.blog.hu/2010/01/27/1000_eves_magyar_rovasiras_amerikaban
en Romaniaban Szulettem,de az anyanyelvem Magyar ,de en Iszraelben Lakok ,de en kulon tisztelettel es halaval,vagyok,mindenkinek aki Beszeli,es olvassa a Magyar nyelvet.meg emlitem, aszt ,hogy eletben maradasomat,is Annank koszonhetem Hogy tudtam Beszelni jol magyarul es romanul.Es meg Egy fonts esemenyt Kel ,hogy leirjak,habar az ujajim mar nem azok ami volt,es allandoan ,kel javitsam a szoveget ,Az a fontos ,tortenet,az
En eletemben ,hogy megtalaltam aszt a csaladot aki elbujtatot 1944 Ben Budapesten ,a Nyilas Fasisztak leg aljasabb korszakaban Bujtatott Egy 13 eves gyereket e sorok irojat,es Meg Egy asszonyt, akirol aszt tudtam ,hogy falurol jot cseledlany. Es most Jon a tortenet befejezo resze Mindaz Amit leirtam nem tortenthetet volna meg ha Perry Uranyi ,nem tanult volna meg Magyarul ,habar Chikagoban Szuletett,,, O volt az aki olvasta Egy Magyar nyelvu Hirdetest az Internetben,hogy evekota keresem ,az URANY BABAT Budapestrol… Eddig Egy igazi tortenet,a tanulsag,hogy Jo tudni Minel tob nyelvet Beszelni
,es OlVASNI,,,,,,,,,,
[…] (Source: http://dailynewshungary.com/9-amazing-facts-about-the-hungarian-language-that-most-people-dont-know/) […]
I am eager to be fluent in hungarian
[…] and crazy difficult to learn. It’s also incredibly ancient – and found everywhere. The earliest known written Hungarian was found in Nova Scotia. Which could have been from Hungarian Vikings – or, you know, aliens from another […]
My name is Peter shved now I understand the source is Sweden
Tyrkir’s inscription probably said : “Right turn to Budapest.” LOL
Does anyone understand what a scholarly paper is????
1. The first thing Google gave me when I searched for this is this article. After some digging I found that there is indeed a rock with some writing on it, but it is not Hungarian at all.
2. There is a book in the British Museum that’s really old (15-16. century) and yes, it is Hungarian. The Museum’s most valuable book? Hardly. Printing was present in Europe at the time, and the book is not one of a kind.
3. Didn’t find the study, so I can’t say anything for sure, but I’d say that this is inaccurate. A lot of Hungarian words are borrowed from German or Turkish, recently English. 68% is way too big. (I’m not saying this is a bad thing, all languages are like this, we increase our vocabulary by adopting new words.)
4. I can’t find most of these people, but fine.
5. Really? Where? I looked on Google maps, couldn’t find a single one of these (I’m not saying they don’t exist, but please give the location, I’m interested). Also, “alma” is a word we borrowed from the Turks, so anything named after it is not necessarily Hungarian.
6. Checks out, but his opinion is really subjective, you could say it about a lot of languages.
7. Checks out. (I didn’t count the noun cases etc., I’ll assume it’s correct.)
8. True, but a lot of western languages use vowels that we don’t: Ø, ä, etc.
9. Really? Where did you come up with that? This is highly subjective, you can’t quantify musicality in languages. I looked up a few lists, Hungarian was nowhere to be found, Italian was usually in the 2nd-4th place. Mandarin Chinese was popping up a lot, but as I’ve said, it is really subjective.
Hungarian poetry is like no other? Again, subjective, and highly debatable.
People, please stop saying Hungarian is the best language in the world, because it has a lot of problems. It’s way too complex and oftentimes it struggles a lot to express itself in a number of scenarios, and doesn’t help with learning any foreign languages. I’ll give you that the writing system (apart from a few things) is pretty damn good. Also, my biggest problem with the language that it has trouble taking in new words: when I’m talking with a friend about non-everyday things a lot of times we end up using a lot of English words.
Kalo
If you would speak proper hungarian, you would realise, makes really easy to learn other tongues.
You google this and that, but dint forget that, the real history of HUNs and Magyars still hidden. For istance we have a 4-5000 years old alphabet, but never nobody used to write down even a phrase. We know that all Magyar books been burned by maria terezia so all our real memories gone.
With your theory the hungarian language adobt lot if words from german and turk, but languisist say those gapoend other way around.
I’m laisy to google it right now but you can if you want, there are lots of oppinions about Magyar language one id them is “Hungarian language is tge top product what humans ever created”
I dont know have you ever realized but hungarian basic words are 3 letters. Just look at your body. Kez/arm lab/leg has/stomach just a few examples because the Hungarian tongue is an inflected language look even the first word of MAGYAR…MAG which means seed which is like nothing in life not random! 😉
Marpio !
You do not know what you talking about.
Gabriella explain it to you.
Next time ask a Hungarian before you post.
But thanks to read the article..
Very interesting! However, there is an error in fact #1. Newfoundland has nothing to do with it. The Yarmouth County Museum is in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
http://yarmouthcountymuseum.ca/index.php/museum/permanent-collection/runic-stone
I agree with everything that Kalo wrote. Every statement of this article is full of vague superficial informations.
1. There are few types of runic alphabet and what is written on that stone is not Hungarian.
2. A bit overrated thing…
3. Hungarian has enormous amount of borrowed words mostly from Slavic languages, then German and Turkic languages.
4. “The Hungarian linguists, historians, professors have been working on that matter for over than 200 years…” with the rhythms of all these political moods. No, antiquity is an absurd term. Language is usually changing through centuries. Icelandic has been remained same from times of Vikings because of isolation of Iceland. But Hungarian do not live in isolated island.
5. Other nations use same formations of letters to name other things. In Austria is a village named Fucking.
6. Personal opinion.
7. Hard to say which language is most complicated. And every language is unique.
8. “English has at least 14 different vowel sounds and, depending on the speaker and dialect, maybe more than 20.”
http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2014/08/19/aeiou_and_sometimes_y_how_many_english_vowels_and_what_is_a_vowel_anyway.html
9. It depends on personal opinion. Don’t get me wrong. Slovaks jokingly call Hungarian welding because for them it sounds so.
Amazing things about Hungarian language that most people don’t know:
1. Hungarian is finno-ugric language but not similar to other finno-ugric languages in Europe or Asia. Although, it has numerous amount of borrowed words mostly from nations that live around Hungarians. Most of these words are irreplaceable in daily communication. Try to find other words instead of barát, ebéd, puszta, pénz and so on.
2. There is strong probability that Hungarian was created in interaction of Old Hungarian tribes and native tribes. Aboriginals were majority. Hungarian language was spreading through slow continual assimilation in Kingdom based by St. Stephen. Genetic researches prove this theory, as Hungarians are genetically similar to their neighbors.
3. Terms Hungarian meant originally inhabitant of Hungarian Kingdom not someone who was speaking Hungarian. ” “Lingua Slavus, natione Hungarus, eruditione Germanus.” – Matthias Bel said about himself.
4. Official language of Hungarian kingdom was Latin. In 18-th century Latin was replaced by Hungarian.
Greetings from Litvania! Hungarian language (and Greek) is mesmerizing! My language is not bad too, but I dislike the way it is transcribed, too many “ç” letters, if you know what I mean. Tegyvuoja Madjaria.
My dad was born in the U.S., but since my grandparents hadn’t yet learned English when dad was born, Hungarian was his first language. Dad was stationed in Europe with the U.S. Army infantry during WWII, his company traveled throughout Europe, where dad once told me that he was often used as an interpreter, due to his ability to communicate with captured German soldiers etc. Dad rarely spoke Hungarian at home, hence, I never learned it. Whenever dad accidentally hurt himself, or became angry, he would swear in Hungarian for several minutes.