The Opulence and Diversity of European Languages: We Learn Romani

Speaking your mother tongue—what can be more natural? Imagine, however, that several generations do not know their language and do not speak it. Imagine the language itself has no written form. Imagine there are no books printed in it… Bit depressing, is it not? Well, Romanis do not even have to imagine that.

Only nowadays, the situation is getting a bit better. There are cartoons in Romani; there is a children’s Bible in Romani—that is something Janusz Panchenko, a colleague of ours, an ethnographer, and a researcher into Romani dialects, is involved in. Earlier, we have told the story of Anastasiia Tambovtseva who teaches Romani children—particularly, teaches them how to write in their mother tongue.

So today, on the European Day of Languages (a holiday celebrated every year on the 26th of September) we, too, are going to immerse into the world of Romani. You can read about our previous «lessons» HERE. First of all, though, a few facts.

Vlakh, Sinti, and others

The Romani language is one of Europe’s languages that is rooted in the ancient India. Today, millions of people speak Romani all across our continent. That said, due to the lack of territorial connection, it does not have a unified standard and codification.

The main difficulty, as far as learning Romani is concerned, is the diversity of its dialects. Romani language differs a lot by country and even by region. There are, for instance, well-known dialects like Vlakh or Sinti or may others. These dialects may differ in terms of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, and this complicates communication between native speakers of different standards of the language.

Codification of the Romani language has been an unresolved issue for many years. Despite numerous attempts at creating a unified written norm, the diversity of dialects prevents that from happening. Most Romanis only use their language in oral communication, hence written versions of their language are very, very rare. Besides, different Romani communities co-opt words off the languages of countries they reside in. This further complicates the idea of creating a single standard.

Romani Greetings

So, let us get to learning Romani, shall we? How can we greet people? What kind of traditional wishes are there? And other useful phrases, too. We speak with Mr Janusz who will help us out here.

– Hello! I want to greet a friend in Romani. Do you think you can help me?

Te aves bahtalo! Me kamaw te pozdravii merne amalesrromanes. Dashides te posobis? 

– Hello! What do you want to say?

Te aves bahtali! Ai so kames te phenes?

– I am glad to be here, at your celebration.

– Me loshali sym te avav po tiro serbytori.

– Live long and prosperous, have good health, and be successful in all your undertakings.

– Lungo tai shukar traio tuti, but sastimos tai baht ande tire rynduria.

– May each day bring you joy and pleasant emotions, and may good people be near.

– Mek kajno dies anel tuti losh tai raduimos, ai pasha tute te aven lashe manusha.

Language is more than just words. It is a song of the spirit of the nation, conveying its history, its dreams, its aspirations. Each and every language is a unique world which we risk to lose unless we learn to preserve it. The European Day of Languages reminds us of the fact that each and every language—even the tiny one, even the least widespread one—deserves to be respected and preserved. This particularly pertains to those languages which—like Romani—all difficulties notwithstanding, continues living in the hearts of its native speakers.