Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1979 (7. évfolyam, 19-22. szám)
1979 / 19-20. szám
cannot be substantiated. Nevertheless, Magyars continue to hold them, and he asks: why? His answers are intriguing, and so is his description of the role of semantics related to the word Gypsy and its derivatives. The behavioral problems seem to be substantial, and they result in dividing the Gypsies into two groups: those who show progress in assimilation adopting Hungarian values, such as attitudes toward work, fiscal responsibility, and other ‘morally’ relevant behavior. “These can throw off their second-class status. Those who do not meet these expectations are treated with derisive behavior, occasional joking, or even ignoring befitting those who are not to be taken seriously.” The author is a doctoral candidate in anthropology at the U. of California, San Diego. □ The Fall 1978 issue of New Letters includes some Hungarian poems: the “Second Eclogue” from SUBWAY STOPS (see HSN 16, p. 4) and two poems by Sándor Csdori (“Imploring Words of Friendship to the Second Person” “Wait Until its Evening”) and “My Mother” by Attila József in the translations of Nicholas Kolumban. “Before the Journey” by Gyula Illyés appears in FOOTPRINT MAGAZINE (Autumn 1978) in the translation of William Jay Smith. All of these translations capture the originals in form and content, proving that while Hungarian poetry is not easily turned into English, it can be done when the translator takes the needed effort and, if necessary, works with able collaborators. □ Freitag, Ruth S., “The Holy Crown of Hungary; a Selected List of References,” Appendix II Library of Congress Information Bulletin 37 (January 20, 1978) 59-64. A brief yet comprehensive survey of the history and significance of the Hungarian crown precedes the bibliography of 50 titles limited to publications in English, French, German, and Italian. Both, historical works and publications of the controversy surrounding the return of the crown to Hungary are included. Most entries are annotated, and all contain the LC call number. Some additional items which appeared afterthe publication of the above: “Meaning of a Crown; Return of St. Stephen’s Crown,” Nation 25 (November 19, 1977) 516. “Ancient Symbol Stirs a Storm for Carter, St. Stephen’s Crown,” U.S. Newsand World Report83 (November21,1977) 44. Fenyvesi, C. “Kadar’s Crown: Return of St. Stephen’s Crown to Hungary,” New Republic 177 (November 19,1977) 15-17. The Holy Crown of St. Stephen and United States - Hungarian Relations, U.S. 95th Congress, First Session. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East of the Committee on International Relations, November 9, 1977. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1978. 155 pages. “Return of an Ancient Symbol; the Crown of St. Stephen,” Time 111 (January 9, 1978) 25. “Carter and Hungary: A Crown of Contention,” Christianity Today 22 (January 27, 1978) 36-37. Nimetz, H., “Crown of St. Stephen; statement with text of letters, November 9,1977,” U.S. Department of State Bulletin 78:2010 (January 1978) 31-33. Vance, C.R., “Europe: Crown of St. Stephen; statement, NO. 19-20, 1979, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER January 5, 1978" U.S. Department of State bulletin 78:2011 (February 1978) 29-30. Volgyes, I. "Hungary, the Crown and the Crowd,” Current History 74 (April 1978) 176-179. Beeson, T. “Hungary’s Crown,” Christian Century 94 (December 14, 1-978) 1158-1159. □ The controversy over minority rights in Transylvania has spilled over into the academic arena, this time into anthropological literature. Michael Sozan (Slippery Rock State College) complains in Current Anthropology (18:4 (1977)781-782) about the oppressive ethnic policies of the Romanian government which result in ethnocide. Ethnocide being defined as “any action by representatives of a dominant culture which aims at obliterating another socio-cultural tradition through a coercive policy of assimilation.” He enumerates some such practices applied against the Hungarian and other minorities and says that the implications of such policies and practices make the disinterested search for reliable data impossible. The Romanian Research Group of the Department of Anthropology, U. of Massachusetts (Amherst), felt obliged to defend Romanian government policies in issue 20:1(1979)135-148 of Current Anthropology. The same issue contains Sozan’s reply. The group labels Sozan’s concern as being part of “a partisan polemic in a century-old dispute between certain Hungarian and Romanian chauvinists over the respective rights in and to Transylvania,” and takes issue with several technical statements of Sozan’s initial article. The Group denies the existence of policies restricting research in the Szekely (Szekler) region or the disclosure of the status of the minorities, and states that in the Group’s field experience during the past several years, no unfavorable conditions relevant to socio-cultural processes or discrimination in education, social mobility or economic advancement have been observed. Sozan, in his reply, reiterates the charges of ethnocide. His supporting data indicates that “through political, legal (as well as illegal), social, economic and educational means the Romanian government aims to destroy Transylvanian Hungarian culture.” He levels criticism at Romanian statistics and historiography, raises the question of professional ethics, and argues for new anthropological research policies which seem to be needed to cope with such practices as ascribed to the Romanian Research Group. □ AN OVERVIEW OF SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN HUNGARY. A special issue of Szociológia (Editorial office 1014 Budapest, Úri utca 62). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1978. 212 pages. $ n.a. paper. This special issue of the Hungarian sociological journal, Szociológia, is a bridge-building publication with the stated purpose of acquainting non-Hungarian sociologist with the organization, activity, and publications of sociologists in Hungary. After a short preface, chapter one describes some 14 sociological research organizations, their functions and substantive areas of interest. Chapter two is a collection of English language abstracts of sociological works published between 1975 and 1977. Chapter three gives brief abstracts of relevant books published in recent years; while the concluding chapter lists papers of Hungarian sociologists in foreign languages. A very useful compendium for interested social scientists. □ 9
