Finno-Ugric exchange students and professors in the 1930s Cover Image

SOOME-UGRI VAHETUSÜLIÕPILASED JA -ÕPPEJÕUD 1930. AASTATEL
Finno-Ugric exchange students and professors in the 1930s

Author(s): Enn Ernits
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus
Keywords: history of national sciences; history of Finno-Ugric linguistic; history of Tartu University; cultural contacts between Hungary and Estonia; promotion of closer ties among Finno-Ugric peoples

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with Estonian exchange students and professors who studied or taught in Hungary and Hungarian exchange students who continued their studies in Estonia in the 1930s. This introductory study focuses on the history of the Estonian Committee of Finno-Ugric Studies, founded at the University of Tartu. This committee was mainly responsible for the organization of the exchange of students and professors of Estonia and Hungary. In this way the committee contributed to the development of national sciences, particularly Finno-Ugric linguistics, promoted closer ties between Finno-Ugric peoples, and established close cultural contacts. Nine Estonian exchange students visited Hungary and vice versa. Some of them became later well-known scholars. The article discusses their activities abroad and their later achievements, first of all in the sphere of Hungarian-Estonian cultural relations. Before the Second World War Felix Oinas (1911–2004), later a famous folklorist, translated several novels by Hungarian authors. He was also a lecturer of the Hungarian language. Paula Palmeos (1911–1990) became an important scholar; she taught the Hungarian language at the University of Tartu for 45 years, and she also translated Hungarian fiction. Some of her students became translators and teachers of the Hungarian language. Alo Raun (1905–2004) taught the Hungarian language and literature and studied several Hungarological problems.

  • Issue Year: 2011
  • Issue No: 57
  • Page Range: 251-270
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: Estonian
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