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JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
to first-hand information how Slovak intellectuals in Hungary
feel” (Kormoš, 2010, p. 7). It is important to note that “…the key
question of nationality is the cultivation of the native language”
(Hrivnák, 1987, p. 8). It is important to specify that “…the
literary work of Kormoš belongs to a kind of literature, which by
its civic appeal – I mean especially a clear presentation of ethnic
Slovak identity, Slovak roots, but also an effort to become a
bridge between the Slovak and Hungarian culture – would
provide a motivating artistic message to the reader” (Resutík,
2005, p. 10).
In addition to constant search for security in the world, the most
important phenomenon of the literary work of Alexander
Kormoš is bilingualism and multiculturalism. Since his literary
debut (1973) he has been constantly striving for symmetrical
bilingualism. In his literary work, the minority aspect of his
human and poetic reference is put into a wider historical and
social context. Kormoš “…is undoubtedly the most versatile
Slovak poet in Hungary” (Fuhl, 2011, p. 29).
The Slovak language on the level of idiomatic basis (use of
interpersonal idioms) in public interaction of Slovaks living in
Hungary is a variant and a unique form of the standard Slovak,
which figures as a literary language of intellectuals, other
members of the community in the context of stylistically
inappropriate or appropriate – to express what is expressed by
Slovaks living in Slovakia and other places in the same or
similar situations and contexts (with slight local variations). This
is fully reflected in the poems of Alexander Kormoš, especially
considering the thematic and lexical aspects of the language.
3 Alexander Kormoš as a representative of linguistic and
cultural specifics
An important element of the pluricentrism of the Slovak
language is its text tradition. The poetic language of Alexander
Kormoš is characterized by language transparency in the context
of rural symbolism. The author also gets into interlingual
situation, while trying to understand both (or more) language
codes. The conceptualization of “his” Slovak language in the
minority environment as a pluricentric language directs towards
the core and away from the core of the language users (lyric
subjects and readers).
Alexander Kormoš introduced himself on a wider spectrum in
the book of poetry called Chodníky (Engl. Sidewalks, 1984). It
includes 24 poems of the author and 22 translated poems of
Hungarian poets. He feels the activity of translation as “…an
inseparable activity from his own work” (
Divičanová, 1984. In:
Rybová, 1984, p. 7, in Slovak: “na stráži stoja stromy / u hraníc
skutočnosti”.) It is important to emphasize some of the motifs
connected to bilingualism and multiculturalism in selected
translations of Hungarian authors (Endre Ady, Ferenc Baranyai,
Mihály Filadelfi, Gábor Garai, Gyula Illyés, Ervin Sass, József
Sárándi, Árpád Tóth, László Tóth, Gyula Urbán, László Újházy).
According to his interpretation Gyula Illyés speaks about the
former relation between Hungary and Slovakia as a piece of a
chain against red coloured borders – the symbol of
Ostrihom/Esztergom; Ferenc Baranyai uses biblical motifs to
express the consolidation of these relations (Adam, Abel, Eve,
Christ, Cain), while the present is described as a big “misery”.
The topic of mutual coexistence in the village of Csévharaszt in
Pest County returns in simple rhyming poems, chastushki
(Ferenc Baranyai), while “the trees are guarding / at the
boundaries of reality” (Sass, 1984. In Rybová, 1984, p. 120).
Ervin Sass has been a dominant representative of Békéscsaba for
many years. It is a kind of Babylon (Ervin Sass), from where it is
necessary to escape (similarly to ancestors of Mihály Filadelfi,
who had to leave the town of Tatranská Lomnica, while
symbolically exchanging “valaška” – valaška is a long thin light
axe used in past centuries by sheperds in the Carpathian
mountains.
Mihály Filadelfi
is criticizing the assimilation
process of Slovaks living in Hungary; he is an advocate of
peaceful co-existence. He also highlights the fearlessness of
Ondrej Likier Áchim, a Slovak politician of the Austro-
Hungarian Monarchy in the 19
th
century, who fought for better
life of the poor. Gyula Urbán remembers the famous Slovenian-
Serbian musician Tichomír Vujičić, who died tragically in a
plane crash near Damascus. He was also a symbol of
multiculturalism and understanding.
After 1989 Alexander Kormoš also published anthologies: Je to?
(Engl. Is It?, 1996), Medzi nebou a zemou (Engl. Between the
Sky and Earth, 1996), Pocta Andymu Warholovi (Engl. Tribute
to Andy Warhol, 1997). The author is using the motif of
exclusion from homeland and living with lost roots. It is
important to gain freedom in life of a nationality from Tatra
Mountains to Danube and Morava to Uh (the symbol of a slowly
appearing cultural rainbow).
4 Cultural contacts and influences in the background of
language concretization
The author’s collection of folk songs from Santov “F
Santovském Pilíši” (Engl. Folk Songs from Santov) was
published in edition of Dunaj (1990) to commemorate the 275
th
anniversary of establishment of the village. The introductory part
mentions the origin of Slovaks in Santov. The development and
social stratification of the village is also mentioned. Apart from
his own work, the author draws conclusion about the Slovak
community by analysing grave sings in the local cemetery. He
points to specifics of the local language (transition from Biblical
Czech to Slovak language used in Santov). He emphasizes the
connexion of those living in Mlynky and Santov; lists the
characteristic features of their dialect with introducing concrete
examples. He characterizes the folk song not only from the
perspectives of Bartók and Kodály, but Suchoň as well. Here we
can see the roots of transculturalism. Practical chapter of the
work is the part that deals with the pronunciation of Slovak
inhabitants from Santov, and linguistic expression of their folk
songs.
The folk songs form a tradition of Slovaks from Santov,
reflecting their historical past and language. The texts can be
read in phonetic transcription. The following songs (mentioned
pars pro toto) also reflect transculturalism:
Ňefúkaj vetríčeg z
Dunaja; Prez Javorňíčki, Vi stromečki, okolo Rajčanky, Od
zámky g Dunaju; Pri Olomúci; Vi Germaňi, ďe sťe, čo sťe;
Červené víno, čífske koláče; Ket som išel pres Košice; Ot
Trenčína mlín mele; F Kaňe galilejskej; F tem inglickém zámku;
Já som Gašper z Indije. The basic direction of his poetry is the
definition and postulation of ideals in broader sense of poetic
meaning. Our knowledge is related not only to the literary, but
also to the linguistic consciousness – behind the theory of
Ferdinand de Saussure –, and thus: “The degree of human
knowledge of the objective world is reflected in the individual
sub-systems of language, the most obvious being our knowledge
of the world is presented in lexis and grammar. Lexis is the most
dynamic layer of language ...” (Tóth, 2017, pp. 108-109). It is
therefore important to examine individual and specific poetry
testimonials – in view of our partial field of linguistic research –
in particular from these aspects.
The first poetry collection of the author after the year of 1989 is
Ohnivá kytica (Engl. Fire Bouquet, 1991), expressing the same
viewpoint. It contains original work of the author, both Slovak
and Hungarian. Kormoš puts particular emphasis on love motifs
in this collection. Bilingualism can be detected again “…further
dimension of the author’s polyphonic engagement, with
orchestral instrumentation of his poetry, calling for synergy of
all instruments, looking for their maximum effect” (Kníchal,
1991. In Kormoš, 1991b, p. 123). In relation of the individual
and the society (poet-birthplace), the elements of regional
principle can be identified in verses. In wider context, a parallel
with nature can be identified, where social memories are made
more colourful with the motifs of Pilíš surroundings. It is
symbolic that the title of poetry collection “Verše z Viharašku”
(Engl. Poems from Land of Storms) had changed to Verše z
Búrlivého kúta (Poems from Stormy Corner). From the
perspective of multiculturalism the symbol “waves of
friendship” between the Slovaks and Hungarians is a kind of
way out of darkness to light. A national author is one, who is
capable for multidimensional existence in space. One possible
destination is Pilíš in May, the other are the fairy-tale like Tatras,
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