Macaristan, Hırvatistan ve Norveç'te dil reformlarının ve milliyetçiliğin karşılaştırmalı analizi

This thesis presents a qualitative analysis on the question why language reforms succeed, fail or partly succeed. Language reforms have been rarely studied from a comparative perspective. However, language movements and the standardization of national languages have great importance in the process of nation-building. This study addresses three cases of language reform which were implemented during the period of nationalist revival of the 19th century. I argue that the combination of three independent variables – statehood, political participation, and pan-nationalist movement – determines the outcome of a reform attempt. In the case of Hungary, the inclusion of the bourgeoisie in political participation together with the absence of a pan-nationalist movement and the lack of pre-existing statehood resulted in a successful language reform. In Norway, the early achievement of statehood, combined with broad political participation, led to a half-successful reform, while in Croatia the strong Pan-Slavic movement and limited political participation determined the failure of the language reform. The findings also demonstrate that in cases where nationalism is primarily language-based, standardized national language is crucial for the formation of the nation-state. Therefore, research on language reforms provides important contribution to the study of nationalism.