Editing Rusyn language (section)

== Classification ==
The classification of the Rusyn language has historically been both linguistically and politically controversial. During the 19th century, several questions were raised among linguists, regarding the classification of [[East Slavic languages|East Slavic]] dialects that were spoken in the northeastern (Carpathian) regions of the [[Kingdom of Hungary]], and also in neighbouring regions of the [[Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria]]. From those questions, three main theories emerged:{{sfn|Magocsi|Pop|2005|p=276-281}}

* Some linguists claimed that East Slavic dialects of the Carpathian region should be classified as specific varieties of the [[Russian language]]. 
* Other linguists argued that those dialects should be classified as western varieties of a distinctive [[Ukrainian language]]. 
* A third group claimed that those dialects are specific enough to be recognized as a distinctive East Slavic language.

In spite of these linguistic disputes, official terminology used by the [[Austro-Hungarian Monarchy]] that ruled the Carpathian region remained unchanged. For Austro-Hungarian state authorities, the entire East Slavic linguistic body within the borders of the Monarchy was classified as ''[[Ruthenian language|Ruthenian]]'' language ({{langx|de|ruthenische Sprache}}, {{langx|hu|Rutén nyelv}}), an archaic and [[exonym]]ic term that remained in use until 1918.{{sfn|Moser|2018|p=87-104}}