Belenyi

Based on empirical research, this book is discussing the educational situation of Deaf students born from parents belonging to the Hungarian minority ethnic-national community living in Romania. Their situation has complex characteristics, as the exclusion generated by their social status is combined with the exclusionary effects of specific cultural and identity traits. They are subjected to social marginality and exclusion as members of the Deaf community, and also due to their ethnolinguistic belonging, as members of the Hungarian minority ethnic-national community. The research results show that the language of special school is an important factor in preserving the Hungarian identity of Deaf community members. Compared to their Hungarian peers studying exclusively in Romanian language, students graduating from the Hungarian language special school are more likely to choose ethnic Hungarian spouses (often already known from the Hungarian special school) and to transmit Hungarian identity to their own Deaf and hearing children.