In many parts of Hungary, people speak several different languages. In some regions, many inhabitants speak Slavonian. For example, in the town of Freistadt, which the Hungarians call Colgotz, I observed an interesting custom. In the main church, the sermon was delivered in Slavonian, while in the Franciscan church, the sermon was given in Hungarian. This shows how closely different languages existed side by side in the same town.
Multilingual Life and Daily Communication
This difference in speech often causes people to learn more than one language. Because of this, Hungarians are usually skilled in languages. Many of them, especially the nobility and soldiers, speak Latin very well. I rarely met people elsewhere who spoke Latin more easily and fluently than the Hungarian gentlemen The Special Importance of the Hungarian Crown.
One nobleman in particular, Count Sacchy, the governor of Doth, and his lieutenant Elvedy, spoke Latin with great ease and clarity. I was also surprised to meet coachmen, boatmen, and other ordinary people who could make themselves understood in Latin when needed. This made travel and communication much easier for visitors.
The Importance of Latin in Travel
Latin is extremely useful in Hungary and Transylvania. It serves as a common language between people of different regions and backgrounds. However, below Belgrade, Latin is of little use to travelers. In those southern areas, Slavonian becomes the dominant language and replaces Latin almost completely.
In fact, with only two languages—German and Slavonian—a traveler can journey a very long distance. With these languages, it is possible to travel from Hamburg all the way to the borders of Tartary and even to Constantinople. I have also heard that Slavonian alone is understood across an enormous area Customized Daily Sofia Tours.
The Wide Reach of the Slavonian Language
The Slavonian language is spoken or understood from Wickelberg in Germany all the way to the Caspian Sea. Before reaching Belgrade, the language becomes common again and continues to be spoken throughout Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and much of Macedonia.
It is also spoken in many other lands, so that with Slavonian alone, a man may make himself understood from the Adriatic coast of Dalmatia to the distant Tartarian regions. This wide use of the language shows its great importance in trade, travel, and daily life.
An interesting example is recorded by Purchas. When Dutch sailors returned from Nova Zembla, the people living not far from that region could say “Dobre” and “Nich Dobre,” meaning “Good” and “Not Good.” These words belong to the Slavonian language and show how far it had spread.
Education and Universities in Hungary
Because of the strong power and constant threat of the Turkish Empire in these regions, it is difficult to expect large and famous universities beyond Vienna. I could not find evidence of any major universities in Hungary itself. Although the country has produced many bishops and learned men, most of them received their education outside Hungary.
This was also true in earlier times. Saint Jerome and Saint Martin both studied beyond the borders of Hungary. Even today, Hungarians who devote themselves to learning, especially those of noble birth, usually study in Vienna, Prague, or Breslau. There is also a small public school or academy at Schemnitz, but it cannot be compared to larger European universities.
Hungary is a land of many languages and wide communication. Latin and Slavonian serve as bridges between cultures, while education often leads Hungarians abroad. This mixture of languages, learning, and travel reflects both the challenges and the richness of the region’s history and culture.
