On the historical status of the Rascian vernacular language in Tököl (Hungary)

Abstract

Tököl is a place located on the south-western edge of the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Tököl, as other places around Budapest, is home to the Rascians (alongside the Hungarian majority and other ethnic segments). They are a small group of Catholics who migrated to their current settlement area from various south-eastern European regions (in particular from Bosnia and Herzegovina) and whose language can be assigned to the Shtokavian continuum. Rascians are often described as a Croatian sub-ethnic group because of their language, customs, and catholic confession, at the same time, they themselves define diversely on questions of ethnic or linguistic identity. The purpose of this study is to present selected language evidence from Tököl that proves how and where a local South Slavic variety was used. The inscriptions on gravestones, monuments in public spaces, and private correspondence will serve as examples.

Keywords

• Tököl
• Rascians
• Hungary
• inscriptions
• South Slavic language evidence