Fraternity-Testvériség, 1993 (71. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

1993-01-01 / 1. szám

Page 8

TESTVÉRISÉG

lenges of nationality politics. Its participants included people from many of the newly independent countries formed out of the former Soviet Union, including Latvia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. Each of these countries has its own national minorities. There were also representatives of the Tatars, Lezgins,

Chechens, Ingush, and Ossetians, ethnic minorities from Russia, many of whom are demanding greater autonomy within the Russian Federation, and some of whom are engaged in power struggles among themselves.

The conference focused on two issues.

The first was the question of what constitutes a nation, and how nations, as self-conscious political identities, are created historically. The second considered, as a pragmatic political challenge, how the legitimate aspirations of national groups can be accommodated within a pluralistic democratic system. In particular, the American delegates sought to explore constitutional, electoral, governmental, administrative, cultural, and other strategies for creating stable multi-ethnic societies.

The conference painted a rather grim picture of the nationalities situation, particularly in the Caucasus region. Most sobering were the reports about a tragic massacre in North Ossetia last November in which hundreds of Ingush people were killed. But the mere fact

that representatives of all of these various groups were able to spend three days engaged in civil discussion of their shared problems was a hopeful sign. By the end the participants were even moved, at an official reception well-stocked with vodka, to toast every ethnic group

present - and finally, and by then rather tipsily, to drink to their peaceful coexistence. If only similar conferences could be held, with the participation of all ethnic groups, in East-Central Europe as well.

Elizabeth Kiss

Elizabeth Kiss together with her mother, Eva Kiss, Manager of Branch 300, Washington, D.C.

INTENSIVE HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE in PITTSBURGH THIS SUMMER

An intensive Hungarian Summer Institute will be held at the University of Pittsburgh from June 21 through July 30, 1993.

The Institute, attracting students from all over the U.S. and Canada, will consist of intensive, five-hours-a- day instruction, allowing students to make the greatest possible progress in Hungarian during the time available. A full schedule of cultural and social activities, including lectures, discussion groups, and film showings is planned. Out-of-town students will be housed in an air-conditioned dormitory. Residents of Pittsburgh are not required to live on campus, but take their lunch with the other participants. This is a “crash course” in survival Hungarian, especially helpful to those who will be teaching in or travelling to Hungary.

The course, Beginning Intensive Hungarian, carries six college credits. It is a thorough introduction to the basic categories of Hungarian pronunciation, grammar, and syntax. Emphasis is placed on communicative competence, the active use of new structures in dialogues, unstructured conversation, reading, and listening comprehension. Daily contact with the instructor, both in class and out, computer assisted instruction, and audio and video tapes create an environment conductive to effective language acquisition. Location at the University of Pittsburgh campus ensures access to the latest in classroom technology combined with a sophisticated urban setting, with the accompanying cultural amenities. For further information and applications, contact Christine Metil, Hungarian Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Slavic Department — 1417 CL, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, or call (412) 624-5906.