"Sárika, Drágám", 1970
Don't let anyone tell you that Hungarian is an ugly language. Challenging, yes. Very much so. Trying to pronounce this language, attempting to speak it with at least a fascimile of accuracy, makes me very thirsty. The English speaking mouth and tongue get a rigorous workout when pronouncing Magyar and the production of saliva seems to increase dramatically.
Before hearing Magyar spoken with any regularity, I thought it sounded like the language of Mordor, with its "ok", "unk" and "ak" endings, tacked onto nouns and verbs that looked harsh and clipped in print.
After hearing the language spoken everyday for six months now, listening to conversation, laughter, anger, gossip, pleading, and every other human verbal expression there is, I've come to realize that Magyar, wrapped in impenetrable, Finno-Ugric mystery, is as sensual, expressive, and beautiful as any Indo-European language could be.
My favorite Hungarian word of the moment demonstrates the language's rich, sultry sound. "Drágám" (roll that "r" or it is not correct) might be translated directly into English as "my expensive one" but is understood as "darling or "sweetheart".
When that word is spoken to you, regardless of whose face it tumbles out of, the sound wraps you up in its warmth and affection, caressing your ears lovingly. It feels so sincere.
And if a Hungarian is anything, a Hungarian is sincere. x
