Kárpátalja településeinek nemzetiségi (anyanyelvi) adatai 1880–1941 (1996)

ELOSZO

PREFACE With the assistance of the National Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) - and in accordance with new approaches - it became possible to present the population structure by mother tongue and nationality of the localities of historical Hungary on the basis of population census data, in publications containing time series. The first volume on this topic, containing the "Distribution of localities in Transylvania by nationality (mother tongue) (1850-1941)" was published in 1991. Following this initiative, the second volume was published in 1996, on the nationality and mother tongue structure of the population of Slovakian localities according to the 1880, 1910, 1921 and 1930 population census data. In addition, the relevant data of the 1941 Hungárián census on the localities reannexed to Hungary in 1938, were alsó included. These volumes were followed by those presenting the percentage distribution by nationality (and mother tongue) of the localities of Felvidék (Upper Northern Hungary), containing 2366 pages in totál. Readers and data users are hereby provided with a new volume of this series aiming at Central European consolidation and scientific purposes. It contains a summary of nationality data of Subcarpathian localities according to the 1880, 1910, 1930 and 1941 population censuses. We are aware of the fact that the use of the published data needs relevant knowledge and consideration of selected statistical definitions, administrative and organisational changes, data dissemination characteristics. Ali these are included in details in the summary chapter preceding locality data. However, first of all, it is to be stressed that ourtime series are somewhat ambiguous: in the 1880, 1910 and 1941 Hungárián censuses the mother tongue of the population enumerated was included in the questionnaire, while in the 1921 and 1930 Czechoslovakian censuses the characteristic of nationality was used, and mother tongue qualified as of primary importance in determining nationality. It is alsó to be taken into account that details on mother tongue and nationality were differently presented in consecutive censuses, e.g. in 1921 and 1930 there was a new category of nationality - that of Jewish nationality - included. We strived after a full-scope registration of administrative and territorial changes, however committed to the system and detailing of the originál publication. It is mainly owing to this that a minor difference has emerged between the Czechoslovakian statistical sources and the summary data of our publication . In this volume, similarly to former publications, we strived after presenting the data of the most numerous nationalities in the given area (Hungárián, Ruthenian and Germán in the Subcarpathian case). Limitations concerning the length of the volume alsó represented a compelling factor in this respect. Smaller minority groups were aggregated in the cell of „other nationalities". Data on Slovak, Rumanian, Polish and Gipsy nationalities have been published in notes by localities if their number exceeded 100 persons or 10 percent of the population of the given locality. It is to be noted that the time series of localities reflect the dimension and changes of different demographic characteristics - natural and actual vitai events - by nationality on the one hand, and the permanence or modification in the national identity consciensciousness, on the other. That is, ratios of the nationality structure by localities or administrative territorial units undoubtfully reflect the joint effects of economic, social, political and administrative factors. 9