Usage of Hungarian language in dental education in Romania

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the use of Hungarian language in dental education in Romania. The first part briefly describes the dental aspects of the first Hungarian-language Transylvanian medical book. The second part presents the history of dental education in Transylvania, from the very beginning till now, especially concentrating on the usage of Hungarian language. The university-level dental education began in 1890 at the Royal Hungarian Francis Joseph University of Sciences in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) as an optional discipline for medical students. Between 1913–1919 and 1940–1945 in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca), the university provided undergraduate and postgraduate dental training in Hungarian; however, it was moved to Szeged between 1921–1940. After several name changes, it became Bolyai University of Sciences, and in 1945, its Faculty of Medicine, with Hungarian teaching language, was transferred to Marosvásárhely (Tirgu-Mures). Here, following the educational reform in 1948, it became the Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marosvásárhely (Tirgu-Mures), and the Faculty of Dentistry was first established, and then, ceased to exist between 1951 and 1960. in 1962, dental training in Hungarian was replaced by bilingual education: the lectures were in Hungarian and Romanian, but practical activities were held only in Romanian. With regards to the teaching language, the situation remains even in the present; however, in the meantime, after a change of regime in Romania, the university was merged with another one, which resulted in several name changes. In 2014, a dental education in English was introduced, resulting in all teaching activities being held in English. Here, we are presenting our individual thoughts on importance of the education using the mother tongue and the preservation of the Hungarian dental terminology, as well as the impact of Romanian and English expressions. In summary, the only place in Romania where (theoretical) dental education is provided in Hungarian language, is in the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu-Mures.