THE TRANSYLVANIAN LINGUISTS’ DEBATES ON THE ADOPTION OF THE LATIN ALPHABET IN THE ROMANIAN LANGUAGE WRITING
THE TRANSYLVANIAN LINGUISTS’ DEBATES ON THE ADOPTION OF THE LATIN ALPHABET IN THE ROMANIAN LANGUAGE WRITING

Summary/Abstract: The philological disputes in Transylvania concerning the adoption of the Latin alphabet in the Romanian language writing were not only strictly linguistic concerns for philologists, but also for many intellectuals in Transylvania. It is natural, especially in the beginning, that the opinions to differ in such a way that, initially, they could exclude one another. The period in question is during the fourth and the fifth decade of the XIXth century. That is why, both traditionalist and conservative linguists, the latter being harder to persuade, have come to recognize the need to write the Romanian language with the Latin alphabet. According to this fact, the Orthodox Church in Transylvania has supported, through many actions made by institutions, associations and cultural societies, the efforts of writing the Romanian language with Latin characters. A good example is the work of the Orthodox metropolitan Andrei Şaguna, who supported the introduction of the Latin alphabet in denominational schools, in religious press and in the celebration of the divine service. An important role was played by the Romanian press in Transylvania, Hungary and Austria, a role which was sustained by the Romanian schools and the two Romanian churches. Another important role was played by the three philological Commissions, in Sibiu, Chernovtsy and Budapest, established officially at the emperor’s directive. These helped, together with the efforts of the philologists, to draw the guidelines for adopting the Latin alphabet.

• Details
• Contents