Lectures

Here you can find information about lectures or lecture series on our research field given by members of the network at various institutions and universities in Europe.

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Summer Term 2023

Burgenland - an interdisciplinary approach // University of Vienna, Department of Finno-Ugrian Studies

The lecture held by Erika Erlinghagen and Christian Pischlöger approaches Burgenland, the youngest province of Austria and home to three of the six autochthonous minorities or ethnic groups (Volksgruppen) in Austria in an interdisciplinary way: from the perspective of linguistics as well as cultural studies. Thus, the different languages of Burgenland (German/Hianzic, Hungarian, Burgenland-Croatian, Romanes, Yiddish) are just as much the subject of consideration as its different cultures and how these appear in public discourse - such as in the media or politics or in literature.

In addition, the course also consists of guest lectures given by representatives of the ethnic groups discussed in the course: Radio journalist Tina Nardai presents the Roma ethnic group, writer and journalist Konstantin Vlasich the Burgenland Croats and journalist Elizabet Hausmann-Farkas the Burgenland Hungarians. A lecture on the historiy of the Jewish communities in Burgenland is given by historian Ursula Steiner-Mindler.

Winter term 2022/23

Minority Literatures in Society and Education in Finno-Ugric contexts // University of Vienna, Department of Finno-Ugrian Studies

For many minority languages, literature represents the most important public space: Poems and prose are also written and also published in languages that are otherwise hardly visible or present, for example, in the media, in administration or in commercial advertising. Literature, with its identity-forming function, can be used as a linguistic or ethno-political tool.

Particularly interesting questions arise in relation to the educational system, where literature is often closely linked to the teaching of languages, cultures and communication. Literary texts in minority languages are sometimes created specifically for the purpose of teaching or revitalizing the language, and in the teaching of minority literatures the established methods and tools of literature didactics are not always easily applicable.

Finno-Ugric minority languages and literatures offer a diverse field of research here: large and small minorities, ancient or traditional/regional minorities (ethnic groups) vs. different migrant groups and diasporas, established written and literary languages (such as Hungarian or Finnish) vs. languages where the written language has only recently been standardized.This also raises the question about common characteristics: What can we make of the term minority literature?

In this lecture series, researchers from our institute and from other universities will look at the phenomenon of minority literature from different perspectives. All interested people also from outside Finno-Ugrian Studies are welcome - knowledge of Finno-Ugrian languages is not necessary!

Programme

11 October: Johanna Laakso (University of Vienna): Introduction - Minority literatures from a linguistic perspective.
In this introductory lecture, some linguistically relevant questions are briefly presented and illustrated with examples from Finno-Ugric minority literatures: How is the position and status of a minority language reflected in literary use? How do people deal with "real-life" multilingualism or the ever-presence of the dominant language? How does the language of literature relate to linguistic reality or to the expectations of the target audience?

18 October: Erika Erlinghagen (University of Vienna): Introduction - Minority literatures from a literary studies perspective
The lecture deals with fundamental questions around the handling of minority literature with regard to the problem areas of canonization and literary historiography, literary criticism as well as literary politics on the basis of some practical examples.

25 October: Csilla Horváth (University of Helsinki): The role of heritage language speakers in creating new domains for Khanty and Mansi language use.
The presentation gives an overview of the sociolinguistic situation of the Ob-Ugric languages in Khanty-Mansiysk, it introduces the Ob-Ugric language revitalisation attempts and the trends of urban Khanty and Mansi language use, while it focuses on the expression of ethnic identity and strategies of language use in the contemporary Khanty and Mansi literature and popular music.

8 November: Heidi Grönstrand (Stockholm University): On Swedish-Finnish minority literature and multilingualism in literature.

15 November: Hanna Mattila (Sámi University of Applied Sciences)

22 November: Henna Massinen (University of Eastern Finland): Karelian-language literature in Finland

29 November: Ferenc Vincze (University of Vienna): On dealing with Hungarian minority literatures
The lecture offers an overview of the spatial division of Hungarian literature, the various Hungarian literatures are dealt with through their emergence, formation and change, whereby the focus is also placed on the literary history of these literatures. The presentation of the so-called Hungarian minority literatures naturally raises the question of whether there is one (or more) Hungarian literature(s), to which an answer is also attempted.

6 December: Eszter Propszt (University of Szeged): Hungarian German Literature Didactics & Teacher Education for Minority Education in Hungary
"Tell me, who knows you / for whom are you important?" the Hungarian-German writer Valeria Koch asked in 1987. The question remains relevant. How can one communicate a minority literature? Can one reach readers (in the minority, in the majority or perhaps in German-speaking countries)? The lecture focuses on the role of schools as an institution. 

13 December: Krisztina Molnár (Apor Vilmos Catholic College Budapest): Hungarian literature didactics and the promotion of "national consciousness" with regard to the minority context
The lecture will review the historical paradigms and methodological trends of Hungarian literature teaching. The reflection will cover contemporary trends and dilemmas in the teaching of literature in schools. The paper focuses on the role of literary education in the formation of national identity, detailing the supporting and critical perspectives on this issue.

10 January: Tünde Blomquist (Uppsala University): Hungarian literature in Sweden as migration literature and its didactics at Uppsala University

17 January: Boglárka Straszer (University of Dalarna): Language hierarchies and language rights in Sweden and national minorities and national minority languages in Sweden

24 January: Johanna Laakso & Erika Erlinghagen: Summary and Conclusion