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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Europe > Serbia > Romani, Balkan

Romani, Balkan

A language of Serbia

ISO 639-3: rmn

Population	120,000 in Serbia. 100,000 Arlija, 20,000 Dzambazi. Population total all countries: 709,570.
Region	Balkans, Kosovo. Also in Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey (Europe), Ukraine, United States.
Dialects	Arlija, Dzambazi, Tinners Romani. Arlija dialect (252,000 to 367,000 total) understood by Greek Romani and Dzambazi.
Classification	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Balkan A member of macrolanguage Romany [rom] (Romania).
Language development	Dictionary. Grammar. NT.
Comments	Ethnic group: Jerlídes (Macedonia, southern Serbia). Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Bulgaria

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	371,000 in Bulgaria (2001 census). 100,000 Arlija, 20,000 Dzambazi, 10,000 Tinsmiths, 10,000 East Bulgarian.
Region	Sofia to the Black Sea (Central dialect). Tinsmiths dialect is in central and northwest Bulgaria; Arlija in Sofia region.
Alternate names	Gypsy
Dialects	Arlija, Tinners Romani, Greek Romani, Dzambazi, East Bulgarian Romani, Paspatian, Ironworker Romani.
Language use	200,000 L2 speakers (Gunnemark and Kenrick 1985).
Comments	Ethnic groups: Jerlídes (western Bulgaria), Drindári (central Bulgaria). Muslim.

France

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	10,500 in France. 10,000 Arlija, 500 Dzambazi.
Dialects	Arlija, Dzambazi.
Comments	Muslim.

Germany

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	3,500 in Germany. 2,000 Arlija and 1,500 Dzambazi.
Dialects	Arlija (Erli), Dzambazi.
Comments	Muslim.

Greece

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	40,000 in Greece (1996 B. Igla). 10,000 Arlija, 30,000 Greek Romani.
Region	Athens, Agia Varvara suburb, about 500 families.
Dialects	Greek Romani, Arlija (Erli).
Language use	Also use Greek [ell].
Comments	Christian, Muslim.

Hungary

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	In Hungary, 150,000 Gypsies speak a variety of Romani as L1 (Réger 1995). Ethnic population: 190,000.
Alternate names	Beás, Cigány, Roma

Iran

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Dialects	Zargari.
Comments	See Western Farsi [pes] in Iran concerning Zargari. Muslim.

Italy

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	5,000 in Italy (1990).
Dialects	Arlija (Erli).
Comments	Muslim.

Macedonia

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	120,000 in Macedonia. 100,000 Arlija, 20,000 Dzambazi.
Region	Balkans.
Dialects	Arlija, Dzambazi, Tinners Romani.
Comments	Ethnic group: Jerlídes (Macedonia, southern Serbia). Muslim.

Moldova

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	12,000 in Moldova (Johnstone 1993).
Region	Moldova; Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine.
Alternate names	Gypsy
Comments	Ethnic groups: Ursári (Moldova), Karamítika (Ukraine), Romá (Crimean Peninsula). Muslim.

Romania

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Region	Black sea region.
Dialects	Ursári (Usari).
Comments	Many have gone to Germany since 1989. Muslim.

Turkey (Europe)

Language name	Romani, Balkan
Population	25,000 in Turkey.
Dialects	Arlija (Erli).
Comments	Muslim.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

BOERGER, Brenda H., author. 1984. Proto-Romanes phonology.