The article as a challenge

Article usage in sentence translations made by students from Polish to Hungarian

Abstract

This paper examines the (in)definiteness expressed by Hungarian articles from a foreign language learning perspective, aiming to identify problems that article usage may pose for learners. The analysis is based on a survey conducted among native Polish speakers, who were asked to translate given sentences from Polish into Hungarian. These sentences contained noun phrases which were potentially challenging in terms of article usage. The selected sentences represent two extreme types of (in)definiteness: specific reference and generics. The category of specific reference includes both situational reference and reference based on general knowledge. The study results reflect the variety of answers provided by participants. These answers are analysed in terms of their correctness and the potential reasons behind incorrect choices. The evaluation uses as its reference point the original Hungarian sentences and the linguistic knowledge of the author. The analysis of the collected data allows for drawing conclusions regarding which type of (in)definiteness presents the greatest challenge for Polish students in the correct use of Hungarian articles.