Arrabona - Múzeumi közlemények 31-33. (Győr, 1994)

Szakál Gyula: Túlélési stratégiák és kommunikációs manipuláció a szlovákiai magyarság körében

Survival Strategies, Media And Communication Manipulation Among The Hungarians In Slovakia (A communication techniques analysis in volume 1977 of the Hungarian language Czechoslovakian weekly "HÉT") Thhe details presented in this lecture are not intended to be of an exhaustive nature. They are the result of long research from a vast body of material. Our investigation were directed at a specific and, until now, unanalysed section of the life of a minority i.e. what kinds of behaviour patterns had developed within the Hungarian community in Slovakia at the end of the 1970's, as a result of the dual oppression - a dictatorial and national oppression. We ask how readers were affected by press manipulation and what answers to questions were given by the newspapers. Our study is directed at communication strategies employed in volume 1977 of the Hungarian language weekly "HÉT", which means "The Week", published in Czechoslovakia. Our method entails a search to find what kinds of patterns affect behavious, thinking or mentality, shown by the authorities, as a result of direct orders, or by hidden orders from other sources in authority. An investigation has been made as to whether an autonomous minority opinion has been formulated in the newspaper. A large amount of contextual analysis was carried out. Besides investigation of the context of words, origin of texts and the recurrence of a pattern of titles, the analysis looked at the connotations of the recurring words "Hungarian" and "nationality". Furthermore the world of imagery in the newspaper and its method of communication were studied. Unambiguous indications have been found that the body of texts in which the words "Hungarian" and "nationality" are found, describe a national minority life totally free from difficulty, at first reading. However, deeper analysis indicates one full of problems and struggles for survival. Behind the stereotyped and controlled patterned language of the dictatorial regime, real life situations can be discerned. The most important part of the lecture was a presentation of behaviour patterns found in the newspaper. This area has been investigated in two ways. On the one hand, a study of survival techniques employed by those in power to stay in power, has been undertaken, showing how these techniques are transferred to the actual language of the minority. On the other hand, it is asked whether power can be influenced by nationality, or the behaviour of a nationality. Autonomy, or efforts at a minimal amount of freedom, was merely distinguishable as small alterations from official slogans. "Be, in the end, good subjects and then you may be Hungarians" - so reads one meassage of power. "We should be loyal citizens only in Hungarian" - was the answer from the national minority. Between these two extremes a wide scale of power pressures and survi448