Rromani Articles

"When wingless, even the most beautiful butterfly is a worm" (rromani proverb)

The drawing is deemed at symbolising the situation of Rromani vocabulary in present time Europe.
The body of the butterfly stands for the inherited vocabulary, but some parts have been lost in various countries, and vernacularists do not allow their reintroduction in local varieties of Rromani (symbolised by light sectors on the abdomen of the butterfly with NA! NE! and NEM!).
The left side of the butterfly represents the internal resources:
- front wing: all the vocabulary of Rromani wisdom, tradition, customary law etc. charged with eloquent phraseology, a lot of which has been lost in modern life. What to do? Recognise and respect this heritage, circulate it in publications and media.
- back wing: words from Rromani history (local terms of past everyday life, institutions, food, dresses, Asian cultural vocabulary etc.). Almost all has been lost. What to do? Teach Rromani history and culture in schools, with the help of this vocabulary.
In both cases it is necessary to accept the presence of these words in Rromani.
The right side of the butterfly represents external resources:
- front wing: modern technical vocabulary dealing with policy, technocracy (also needed), Human rights, active citizenship, institutions, advocacy etc… This vocabulary exists partly but it is not very widely known, just like the notions it expresses are still unfamiliar to most Rroms. Education is needed to inform about these notions and disseminate the vocabulary related to these notions. One can include here also universal and European phraseology, often based on the Bible and classical European literature. What to do? Use Rromani as widely as possible in all these spheres of activity, with international terminology and ad hoc neologisms, but stressing mainly the Rromani way of reasoning with Rromani lexical resources.
- back wing: notions and terminology related to the European period of Rromani history, in intercourses with ga?ikane societies, in terms of persecution and peaceful coexistence. Due to the lack of Rromani historical institutions, this vocabulary is quite unknown to most Rroms. What to do? Incorporate this vocabulary into Rromani books, conferences, exhibitions and movies devoted to European history.
Restoring lost and forgotten segments of the language, enriching its resources in the above mentioned domains and urging speakers to introduce and incorporate these items as a part of our common heritage are the three most crucial tasks for the affirmation of Rromani as a regular European language. This can lead to a production which will be sufficient for to enhance its prestige and motivate people to use it wider among them in everyday life, especially in families and close fellowship. If this can be achieved, its affirmation as a European language of culture and communication will be granted and there will not be any more reason to write articles about Rromani in journals devoted to endangered languages. As Rajko Djuric - a poet and journalist from Serbia, said: "It is a matter of pativ (honour, respect, righteousness, justice) to save our language from fragmentation and give it back the status it should never have lost".

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Message on International Roma Day 2009

International Roma Day is an opportunity call attention to the history, experience, and human rights of Europe’s largest ethnic minority.

Promoting and protecting the rights of Roma has long been of personal interest to me. I saw firsthand the plight of the Roma – particularly Romani women and children – when I visited Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe as First Lady. As a member of the Helsinki Commission, I urged governments to do more to protect and promote the 10 million Roma who live in Europe.

Despite important progress that has been made in the past decade, many Roma still live on the margins of society. They continue to experience racial profiling, violence, discrimination and other human rights abuses. Too often they lack identity documents or citizenship papers, which excludes them from voting, social services, education, and employment opportunities that would enable them to participate more fully in the countries in which they live.

The United States is committed to protecting and promoting the human rights of Roma through our bilateral relations and through our involvement in organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Governments have a special responsibility to ensure that minority communities have the tools of opportunity they need to succeed as productive and responsible members of society. I urge governments throughout Europe to continue their efforts to address the plight of Roma, end discrimination and ensure equality of opportunity in education and employment so that Roma can fulfill their greater promise of success and achievement.

Roma have a rich artistic and cultural heritage, which has left an indelible mark across Europe and the world. It is in the interests of the larger European and global community to create conditions that maximize success for all people within our borders and beyond. I hope that events taking place at our embassies and missions around the world on International Roma Day will be one more step on the path to helping Roma reach a better, brighter future.

SHRADDHA, A play by Natasha Langridge, at Soho Theatre, London, November 2009.

review by Janna Eliot

The Olympics are coming to London! The Games will bring prestige, tourist revenue, and sports facilities to East Londoners. So why aren't the people in the Hackney trailer park rejoicing? Because, despite having lived on their site for seventeen years, their land is needed for a massive swimming pool. And nothing can stop the bulldozers moving in.
Against a background of forced eviction, this raw, emotive play tells the story of Romani Pearl and her growing, tempestuous relationship with Gorger Joe. Clever props, including an on stage yog, spirited violin playing and great performances from all the cast, turn the depressing reality of relentlessly being moved-on into a disturbing theatrical experience.