A “nice conversation” or “a so called picnic” Cover Image

„nyájas társalkodás” vagy „egy úgynevezett piknyik”
A “nice conversation” or “a so called picnic”

The Political Side of George Aranka’s Programme

Author(s): Péter Dávid
Subject(s): Hungarian Literature
Published by: Erdélyi Múzeum-Egyesület
Keywords: György Aranka; Hungarian Language-Protecting Society of Transylvania; 18th century; “academic movement”; polymath; Transylvanian diets; Transylvanian nationalities;

Summary/Abstract: According to the treatises which deal with George Aranka’s texts, that propagate the Hungarian Language Protecting Society of Transylvania (the only scientific society which could be founded in the 18th century), are set into the context of those writings of the “academic movement” which have got similar topics. The members of the academic movement were Bessenyei, Batsányi and Samuel Decsy. These treatises highlight the accuracy of Aranka’s writings as his specialty. However, they don’t mention some problematic parts of Aranka’s essays. These points cannot be answered unambiguously by the analysis, which has got its root in the “academic movement”. The aim of this work is to create the context of the programme of Aranka, the Transylvanian polymath, in which the so called white spots will be understandable. I deal with the events of the 1790/91, the 1792 and the 1794/95 diet as primary sources proving that Aranka not only initiated the foundation of a scientific society but also he contributed to the significant questions and problems of the diets like the debate which is about having the Hungarian as official language accepted. He expresses his opinion during the conference which aim is to solve the problems of the three nations in Transylvania. He also talks about the problems of different nationalities inside Transylvania and about the question of the union.

  • Issue Year: LXIX/2007
  • Issue No: 3-4
  • Page Range: 266-276
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Hungarian