Factors Shaping German Identity in the Settlements of Dombóvár and Its Surroundings

Szenyéri, Zoltán (2025) Factors Shaping German Identity in the Settlements of Dombóvár and Its Surroundings. MODERN GEOGRÁFIA, 20 (2). pp. 21-43. ISSN 2062-1655

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Abstract

During the censuses conducted between 1990 and 2011, the number of people identifying as German ethnicity consistently grew. Some researchers attributed this rise to a process of dissimilation. In the 2022 census, a methodological change was introduced, allowing individuals to identify as both Hungarian and German in terms of mother tongue. Despite this, the census revealed a significant decrease in the number of people identifying as German ethnicity in the Dombóvár region. Based on these findings, we decided to conduct a questionnaire survey. The sample focused on the German ethnic population primarily residing in the Dombóvár area. According to the analysis, the younger generation has shown a sporadic tendency to identify with German ethnicity. The vast majority of those identifying as German tend to emphasize their ethnic affiliation more as they age, while only rarely acknowledging German as their mother tongue. Our analysis of the survey results indicates that dual identity is prevalent among respondents. The questionnaire survey unequivocally confirms that most individuals identifying as German possess a symbolic ethnicity, meaning that German identity is not strongly tied to the preservation of the native language or cultural traditions.

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