Gypsies: Romani Language
What language do gypsies speak?
This article answers the question posed by Melanie Shebel (melbel) "What language do gypsies speak?"
What is a Gypsy?
Gypsies are a nomadic people originally from northern India who migrated to Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.
Gypsy is the name in English of those people belonging to the Romani (Romany) ethnic group. In the Romani language, the Romani people are called several names, among them Roma, Romane, Romani, Romanies, and Roms.
The term "gypsy" comes from the mistaken belief that the Romani people originated in Egypt. The term, derived from the word Egyptian, is considered derogatory by many Romanies.
Romani Language Dialects
The following chart lists the most common Romani dialects and the countries in which that dialect is usually spoken.
ROMANI LANGUAGE DIALECT
| AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIALECT
|
|---|---|
Finnish Kale
| Finland, Sweden
|
Iberian Kale
| Spain, Portugal, Latin America, Southern France
|
Manush
| French-speaking areas in Central Europe
|
Roma
| Europe, North America, South America, Australia
|
Romanichal
| United Kingdom, United States, Australia
|
Romanisæl
| Sweden, Norway
|
Sinti
| German-speaking areas in Central Europe
|
Welsh Kale
| Wales
|
No Written Romani Language Until Recently
Until recently, there was no written Romani language. Depending upon the Internet source you use, Romani, an Indo-Aryan language, is spoken by two miilion people worldwide or 4.8 million people worldwide or 10 million people worldwide.
University of Manchester Romani Linguistics Project
The School of Languages, Linguistics, and Cultures at the University of Manchester in Manchester, England has conducted extensive research into the Romani language and its dialects. Using one of the University's databases, I have produced a chart indicating translations of the word "love" and a sentence using the word in several Romani dialects.
Athough there are some similarities among the dialects, the translations appear to be of distinct languages.
ROMANI DIALECT
| THE WORD "LOVE" (VERB)
| SENTENCE USING THE WORD "LOVE"
|
|---|---|---|
It seems to me that she is in love with him.
| ||
(AL-001) Měckari
| kamava tut
| manje dičhola sar okuva kamela la
|
(BG-001) Velingrad Yerli
| dukhava
| kərəla pəs mandə, če oj si vljubimə ləstə
|
(BG-007) Kalajdži
| severim
| mange pes avel pes kaj voj bienir les
|
(BG-008) Kalburdžu
| seviim
| phaklem mor ogi galba oj mangel kav čhave
|
(BG-009) Kalajdži
| but severim
| me akhjarav či si vljubeno/voj či mangel les
|
(BG-010) Muzikantska Roma
| dukhava
| sruvizela man či odja vljubime lesti
|
(BG-011) Goli Cigani
| sevijom
| mislizaa či oj … sevijor les
|
(BG-012) Rešitari / Čergari
| mangav
| maj voj mangel les
|
(BG-013) Kalajdži
| običizava
| mislizava mange či odeja i vljubime an leste
|
(BG-014) Kalajdži
| mangav
| galiba voj mangel le
|
(BG-015) Xoraxani
| sevijerim
| zannedijerim či odja mangela les
|
(BG-016) Kalajdži
| mangava
| misizava kaj voj mangela le
|
(BG-023) Xoraxani
| sevijerim
| me dikhava oj enǝ mangela les
|
(BG-024) Sofia Erli
| dehav
| dikhjol kaj oj mangel les
|
(BG-045) Sindel
| sevīm
| odoja āšǝki lehke
|
(CZ-001) Czech Vlax
| te milovalij les
| dikhav hotj kamel les
|
(EST-005) Čuxny
| te kames
| |
(FIN-002) East Finnish Romani
| ikkavel
| manna cikkila at joi hin kamjatas les
|
(FIN-005) West Finnish Romani
| ikkaven
| pi me tikkās et jou ikkina lesta
|
(FIN-006) East Finnish Romani
| kammaa/ ikkila
| me tikkaa ta joo hin kammas les
|
(FIN-008) East Finnish Romani
| kamlavaa
| me tenkavaa at joj kammavaa les
|
(FIN-011) West Finnish Romani
| me tenkataa että touva ikkaavaa les
| |
(Fin-012) East Finnish Romani
| rikkila
| me tenkavaa että jou ikkila lesta
|
(GR-002) Romacilikanes
| kamama
| |
(GR-004) Sofades
| mangava
| nomina oti voj mangela les
|
(HR-001) Gurbet
| kamlipe
| me gəndiv kaj si oj zaljubime ande leste
|
(HR-002) Čurjarja Arilje
| mangipe
| voj izgledil mange kaj si voj zaljublime ande leste
|
(HR-003) Manuša Čurjarja
| voleti
| me gǝndiv kaj voj le volil
|
(HU-004) Lovari
| me kamav les
| kade gindi me odj kamel les/kade dikhav odj kamel les kadi žuvlji/dičhol odj kamel les
|
(HU-007) Gurvari
| kamel
| kadi ka voj kamel les
|
(IT-007) Molise
| kamma
| pakja joj innamurinja-p tar kava
|
(IT-010) Molise
| kamma-l bene
| pena ta joj innammurinja-p de kuako
|
(LT-005) Lithuanian Romani
| te kamel
| mange kazynel-pe so joj kamel les
|
(LT-007) Lithuanian Romani
| kamel
| me duminow so jej kamja-pe po leste
|
(LT-008) Lithuanian Romani
| kames
| mange zdajse so jej kamel les
|
(LT-009) Polska Roma
| kamom
| me duminow so joj ukamni-pes de leste
|
(LV-005) Čuxny (Latvian Romani)
| kama
| mange leki sy jej kamel les
|
(LV-006) Lotfitka (Latvian Romani)
| kama
| ... dufina sy jej kamel les
|
