SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC PARTICULARITIES OF THE TRANSYLVANIAN-SAXON VILLAGE TEKENDORF/TEACA

Abstract

Since the researchers have dealt with the problem of the Transylvanian Saxons, their opinions have diverged, especially regarding the origin of the name Tekendorf/Teaca itself. Since this research direction has remained relatively inconclusive, the experts devoted themselves to study the Saxon dialect. In this case, they found clear similarities with the dialect spoken in Luxembourg or with the Moselle-Franconian linguistic region, which prompted them to determine the original home of the Transylvanian Saxons in this area. Later though linguistic research also revealed other influences, so it was concluded that the descent cannot be traced back to this area alone. The exceptions that led to this conclusion are in Northern Transylvania, where for example Baierdorf / Baidref / Crainimăt / Királynémeti or Tekendorf / Tengdraf / Teaca / Teke are located. In the latter case, not only does the name point to Bavaria through its striking resemblance to the town of Deggendorf, but also the local dialect, which differs from that spoken by the Transylvanian Saxons. The aim of the present work is to emphasize the special position of Tekendorf in relation to the other German Transylvanian settlements, especially concerning the linguistic peculiarities.