Keep On Rokkering

This video shows how Travellers in Europe speak Romani. We've been apart for hundreds of years. But as you can hear, some words are still the same.

There are plenty of people who will tell you that the Romani language is dying out. Then there are those who will tell you there are no “real” Gypsies left any more, just “Pikeys” playing make-believe. Both of these lies are popular in the mainstream media.

But that's exactly what they are: lies. The English Romani language is alive and kicking, although it evolves and adapts to meet the needs of the times. It is sad that old words fall out of use. But these can be relearned, not only through new books like Ronald Lee's “Learn Romani” (pictured), but from much closer to home. If we get our parents and grandparents talking, we'll find they still remember a lot of our language, even if it's not used all the time.

Like the Cant (or Beurla-Reagaird) language Irish Travellers learn at home, the Romani language is a private thing, and that's what makes it so important. But the more people know that it's a real language, the harder it will be for them to pretend we are second class citizens. We're an ethnic group with our own language and culture, just like any other.

Next time someone says you're not a real Gypsy, ask them where our languages came from if they're not real! Because the two and a half million Romani speakers in the world can't all be making it up.

If you want to hear what the Romani language sounds like, there are thousands of sample recordings available on the University of Manchester's Romani project website: http://romani.humanities.manchester.ac.uk. Kushti bok!

And if you're interested in learning more through books or other resources, email me at damian@grthm.co.uk.