Graphology was prohibited in
Hungary until 1930. There were,
of course, some isolated crusaders who were studying, and researching
from their wwws or from cafés.
Jeno Peter Schwiedland was
originally born in Hungary although he lived in Austria. He worked together
with his student Ludmilla Schmid-Akilov. At
the end of the 19th century Hungary had no outstanding personalities in
graphology. There were intuitive graphologists and the first book written in
Hungarian language was published in 1909 byKaroly Pinterics. By profession he was a handwriting expert in court.
The book by Pinterics was
followed by other authors and books. Here
are some of the names: Todor Liebermann, Pal Ranschburg, Bela Radnai, Antal
Balint, Rudolf Giay. The most important person was Klara Goldzicher better
known as Klara Roman. Because of the War she emigrated to the United States
where she continued her work in graphology and published several books. We
respect all her works and consider them to be classics.
1930 was an important year as
this was the date when the Society of Writing Studies was formed, it was not
restricted to handwriting. Unfortunately because of the political situation it
was dissolved in 1951.
Other names to mention: Dezso
Balazs, Richard Hajnal, Moric
Bendetz, Jozsef Biro. After World War II graphology was actually forbidden in
Hungary. Another protagonist was
Csaba Csotortok. After a long lonely-researcher period (20 years) in 1960 he
got a permit to practice but his book was published only four years after his
death.
Café-graphology was very
popular in these times in spite of prohibition.In 1985. Dr Tamas Agardi published his book titledGraphology for Everyone. This was the first Hunarian language book
published since World War II. New life was given to graphology in Hungary at
this point. Other well-known names from this era were: Klara Acs Mrs.Rakos,Valeria Vegvari Pal
Somoskeri., Peter Z.Ganti and Peter Bodroghy.
In 1987 the Society of Writing
Studies was reorganized. The chairman of the Society being Dr.Tamas Agardi.
Soon afterwards The Graphological Institute (Grafologiai Intezet) was
established in 1991, also with Agardi as director. The Institute has twenty
lecturers and has trained over a thousand students. Training for the
Certificate of Qualified Graphologist takes three years or between 300-360
hours of tuition.
At the end of the second year of
studies the student is challenged with a demanding examination. In the third
year there is a possibility to continue the studies in specialist subjects,
other areas of graphology and to prepare a thesis. Table 1 indicates the
subjects taught at the Institute over the three years. The certificate is
considered to be a Medium Degree qualification
and is accepted by the Hungarian Ministry of Education.
Table 1 Subjects being taught at
the Graphological Institute
Methods
of learning handwriting,
The
History of Handwriting,
The
features of writing: definitions and measurement
The
History of Graphology,
General
Psychology: Personality, development, pathology
"Movement"
- as communication
Communication,
Occupations
Symbols
Methods
of learning graphology
Pedagogical
graphology
International
standards
Analysis
Synthesis
Law
Ethics
To complete the picture in
Hungary it must be said that other organisations provide graphological training
and services. These include the Belgian-based CEREG (Cercle Europeen de
Recherches et d’Etudes Graphologiques) who, since 1994 have offered training
with Erika Barna W. Also Mr.Jeno Gulyas and his Grafo Didakt Center have
provided tuition. The Kilato Union is a small group aiming to raise awareness of
graphology and professional bodies The director is Ms.Iren Hrutka.
Additionally there is the
National Institute of Handwriting Experts with
Ms. Agnes Katona as Director. Also Pszicho-Grafo-Logosz, Miskolc, founded in
1996; the director is Dr. Laszlone Zsiros. Also from 1996 is the Regional Center
for Teaching Graphology, the director being Ms. Irma Visnyei Fazekas. One of the
private schools for Teaching Graphology is run byDr Laszlo Szidnai. There are also shorter graphological courses at
University offered as part of specific subjects, this is especially evident in
the education of psychologists.
Conclusion
At the present time the most
experienced specialists of graphology in Hungary are preparing a consistent
syllabus and fulfilling requirements in order to accredit graphology to be
taught as a full University degree. After the struggles of our forefathers
graphology is finally being considered as a science and profession.
References
Agardi,
Tamas dr. (1985) A grafologiarol mindenkinek (Graphology for Everyone), Szikra
Lapnyomda, Budapest
Agardi,
Tamas dr. – Szidnai, Laszlo dr. (1998) A grafologia kezikonyve(The Handbook of Graphology), Grafologiai Intezet, Budapest
Banati
Fischer, Arpad (2000) Lelek es iras (Soul and Writing), Lazi, Szeged
Bendetz,
Moric (2000) A grafologia konyve (The Book of Graphology), Szukits, Szeged
Bendetz,
Moric (2000) Grafologiai tanulmanyok (Studies of Graphology), Szukits, Szeged
Biro,
Jozsef (1999) Modern grafologia (Up-to-date Graphology), Szukits, Szeged
Csotortok,
Csaba (1986) Grafologia (Graphology), Gondolat, Budapest
Giay,
Rudolf (1998) A grafologia tankonyve (The Coursebook of Graphology), Szukits,
Szeged
Gulyas,
Jeno Istvan (2001) Mindenki grafologiája (Everyone’s graphology), Grafodidakt,
Budapest
Gyulai,
Zsuzsanna (1999) Funkcionalis analfabetizmus a fogvatartottak koreben (Research
of Illiteracy at prisoners), Janus Pannonius Tudomanyegyetem, Pecs
Gyulai,
Zsuzsanna (2001) Funkcionalis analfabetizmus a bortonokben II. (Research of
Illiteracy at prisoners II.), Pecsi Tudomanyegyetem, Pecs
Keki,
Bela (2000) Az iras tortenete (The History of Writing), Vince Kiado, Budapest
Lada,
Laszlo (1996) A tulso part messze van (The Other Side of Shore is Far Away),
Bekes Megyei Pedagogiai Intezet, Bekescsaba
Pal,
Laszlo (1974) Bevezetes a kriminalpedagogiaba (Introduction to Crime-pedagogy),
Orszagos Pedagogiai Konyvtar es Muzeum, Budapest
Rakosne
Acs, Klara (1985) Vallanak a betuk (The Letters Reveal), Magveto, Budapest
Romanne Goldzicher, Klara (2000) Iras es egyeniseg
(Handwriting and Personality), Lazi, Szeged
Soltesz,
Istvan (2000) Emberismeret az irasbol (Getting to Know the Person Through
Handwriting), Szukits, Szeged
W.
Barna, Erika (1998) Beszel az iras (The Handwriting Narrates), Edesviz, Budapest
W.
Barna, Erika (2001) A graoterapia alapjai (The Basics of Graphoterapy), Comenius
Bt, Pecs
Notes
1. Susan Gyulai Born in
Budapest. Profession: Manager for Foreign Affairs, Manager for Culture and Adult
Education, further special courses related to the European Union. M.A. at Janus
Pannonius University - Pecs - Hungary. She has great experience in organising
cultural and international affairs, summer courses, exchange programs etc. She
works for the Hungarian Television Corporation and has studied at the
Graphological Institute http://www.grafint.hu
Her thesis concerns the
handwritings of imprisoned men and women. She is translating the works of
well-known graphologists into Hungarian. Email gyuzsu@qwertynet.hu
2. This article was submitted in
English, then edited and adapted by Nigel Bradley in November
2002.
