Focus ROMI.HR
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Source: Freepik The study of the Romani language and its dialectology is an important component for understanding the historical migrations, culture, and unique characteristics of the Romani people. Research in this field has come a long way in the 20th century, encompassing both territorial differences and cultural-linguistic characteristics. In this context, we will examine the main stages in the development of Romani language research, key achievements and challenges, and the influence of historical and political factors on its study.
In the 20th century, Romani dialectology actively developed, and territorial variations in the language were studied. In 1915, the British researcher Bernard Gilliat-Smith, studying Romani dialects in Bulgaria, proposed in his articles a division of dialects into "Vlax" and "non-Vlax".
Since the 20th century, in accordance with the authorities' national policy, work on the study of the Romani language has begun in the Soviet Union, particularly those dialects spoken among Rusca Roma and Kălderari.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Romani schools were opened, textbooks and literature were published, including translations of classics. Work was underway to describe the grammar and vocabulary (i.e., the language's vocabulary), and the Cyrillic alphabet was modified to accommodate the unique sounds of the Romani language. Furthermore, a Romani Union was formed, and textbooks in the Romani language began to be published. But by 1938, all these efforts were curtailed: the authorities decided to pursue a course of assimilation of the Romani people. By the end of the 20th century, the study of the Romani language began again.
Among the works written by Soviet linguists on the Romani language, it is worth mentioning the works on grammar and spelling by M.V. Sergievsky and P. Istomin, and the dictionaries of P.S. Demeter and A.P. Barannikov.
In the mid-20th century, Romani folklore was actively collected in Europe. Similar activities were developing in Austria, Hungary, then Czechoslovakia (now the separate countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia), Yugoslavia (now Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia), and France.
An important milestone in the history of Romani language studies was the defense of dissertations on this topic. From 1963 to 1969, these dissertations were authored by Kiril Kostov, Jan Kochanowski, and Donald Kenrick. It's worth noting that Jan Kochanowski was a student of Romani descent. He was also one of the people who contributed to the creation of the Indo-Romani Cultural Center in France.
The late 20th century saw events that became important for the study of the Romani language. First, in 1971, the World Roma Congress was held, where, among other things, language issues were discussed. Secondly, in 1986, a conference on Romani language and culture was held in Sarajevo.
The history of Romani language studies vividly reflects the complex interpersonal and political history of the people, as well as the active academic research and cultural initiatives undertaken in various countries. Despite interruptions and obstacles, fundamental works on grammar, vocabulary, and folklore laid the foundation for a modern understanding of the Romani language and culture. The importance of ongoing research is confirmed by international conferences and the active participation of scholars, which contribute to the preservation and development of this unique cultural heritage.
For those interested in learning more about the history of the Romani language, I recommend consulting this source:
https://www.kratylos.org/~raphael/romani/whatis/linguistics/history.html
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