Diaspora research: on the margins of sociolinguistic research among the Hungarian diaspora in Austria

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to provide insight into the background of the online survey of Hungarians in Austria in 2021, and to provide a framework and methods necessary to understand the language use and language preservation motivations, community-constructing cross-border mobility patterns and plans of the otherwise differentiated Hungarian diaspora community. To obtain the results, I conducted an online questionnaire survey and interviews with NGO leaders. I do not consider the Hungarian diaspora in Austria as a homogeneous group; it is very heterogeneous, differentiated by the period of emigration, religious and political affiliations, economic power and social stratification, in addition to the country of origin (which can be any country neighbouring Hungary) and the different social milieus. The questionnaire was completed by 1418 people in Hungarian and 36 in German – the majority of them being women. The study focused on language use patterns across five generations, the relationship between education and language, leisure and language use, and language attitudes. The originality of this research experince lies in that it can provide basis for a deeper understanding of the Hungarian diasporisation process and of the habits of language use in the diaspora.