hulit1-3, Exercise 1: The language reform

Model answer (check the details):

What it tried to do: modernise Hungarian so that it could be used for poetry, drama, science, politics and everyday modern life, at a time when German and Latin dominated public life. Reformers such as Kazinczy translated European works, coined or revived thousands of words, and promoted a refined literary style.

Why it was controversial: traditionalists accused the reformers of artificial and unnatural language, and the quarrel over correct usage lasted for years. Some of the new words were awkward, and the debate was also about who had the right to decide what Hungarian should be.

What it achieved: a language able to carry modern literature and public argument, many words that are still in use, and institutions such as the Academy of Sciences (founded in 1825). It created the conditions for Kolcsey, Vorosmarty, Petofi and the poets who followed (check how much credit belongs to the reform and how much to others).