Module 4 LEARNING POINT 3

Regarding Hungarians, one of the most common autostereotypes is the saying, “Hungarians celebrate in tears,” or that they celebrate while crying. This reflects the shared experience of often ending up on the wrong side of history and being mistreated or treated unfairly. Another stereotype linked to this is that Hungarians are known for fighting heroically only to fail spectacularly in the end. Additionally, there is a widespread belief in Hungarian exceptionalism in science and sports. For example, Hungary is proud of having the highest number of Nobel Prize winners per capita and consistently overachieving in sports relative to the country’s size. In terms of attitudes toward other nations, Hungarians often hold prejudices against their neighbours, primarily due to the historical legacy of the Treaty of Trianon. Romanians are commonly perceived as receiving more favorable treatment than they deserve—whether in politics, sports, or other areas. Regarding Slovaks, the general prejudice is that they lack a history of their own and that their territories were taken from Hungary. As for Poles, there is a well-known sentiment of camaraderie expressed in the saying, "Poles and Hungarians are brothers in arms," which is often accompanied by the idea of drinking wine together in celebration of this bond. 

Latvian context:

Latvians have historically experienced extended periods of rule by external forces, especially Russia. Folk songs frequently reflect nuanced attitudes that change over time—ranging from anger to admiration, depending on the context. For example, this song implies an unexpected or unwanted presence, signalling that the arrival of Russians is impactful, potentially altering the lives of the people, particularly young women: 

Oh God, oh God,  

Russians came to this land;  

Many mothers' daughters  

They will become Russian brides. 

(No. 31904-0, https://dainuskapis.lv/meklet/10/Krievi) 

Russians could also be reliable trading partners or individuals in specific economic relationships. These songs may symbolize a local perspective that challenges negative stereotypes: 

I gave to the Russian, I will give to the Russian.  

The Russian paid me well.  

I won't give to the boys.  

They didn't pay a penny. 

(No. 34886-0, https://dainuskapis.lv/meklet/Krievam) 

God, let me grow tall, 

I will be a Russian bride: 

Fitting for me are Russian skirts, 

Fitting is the Russian cap. 

(No. 9641-1, https://dainuskapis.lv/meklet/Krievu) 

 Recent studies (Kaprāns, Mieriņa, Saulītis, 2020) indicate that Latvians primarily describe themselves with positive self-stereotypes, viewing themselves as hardworking (54%), open and friendly (33%), and innovative (24%). Among Russians living in Latvia, positive self-stereotypes are even more pronounced: Russians see themselves as open and friendly (48%) and hardworking (46%). Latvian respondents commonly perceive Russians as open and friendly (34%), though politically tinged negative stereotypes are relatively widespread. For instance, Russians are often seen as particularly supportive of their compatriots (32%) and associated with aggressive ethnocentrism (31%). It should be noted that this study was conducted before Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, a greater proportion of Latvians associate Russians with aggression and hostility. 

 Polish context:

In Polish fairy tales, foreigners (e.g., Germans, Russians, and Turks) are often portrayed as individuals representing specific traits: the German as meticulous and materialistic, the Russian as rough but strong, and the Turk as exotic and threatening. In turn, Poles are portrayed in folk tales as hospitable, clever, resourceful, courageous, devout, and deeply loving their homeland. Below are examples of proverbs related to hospitality: 

Guest in the house, God in the house. 

Whatever the house is rich with, it gladly shares. 

A good host makes the house happy with a guest.