Romani, Vlax

A language of Romania

ISO 639-3

rmy

Alternate Names

Danubian, Gypsy, Roma, Romanese, Tsigene, Vlax Romany

Autonym

Romani

Population

246,000 (2014 UNSD). 6,000,000 to 11,000,000 Roma worldwide (1987 I. Hancock). Total users in all countries: 538,480.

Location

Largest concentration in Dolj and Caras-Severin counties; scattered elsewhere, in the south and southeast.

Language Status

6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2001, Local Public Administration Law No. 215, Article 40(7), others).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Vlax

Dialects

Sedentar Romani, Kalderash (Coppersmith, Kalderari, Kelderash, Kelderashícko), Ukraine-Moldavia, Eastern Vlax Romani (Bisa), Churari (Churarícko, Sievemakers), Lovari (Lovarícko), Machvano (Machvanmcko), Serbo-Bosnian, Zagundzi, Sedentary Bulgarian, Ghagar, Gabor, Vallachian. Kalderash and Churari are occupational ethnonyms; Machvano is a geographical one. Other names are ‘Argintari’, silversmith and ‘Lingurari’, spoonmakers. Machvano and Serbian Kalderash have south Slavic superstratum; Lovari influenced by Hungarian [hun]. All 20 or more Vlax dialects are inherently intelligible; differences are mainly lexical and sociolinguistic (I. Hancock). A member of macrolanguage Romany [rom].

Language Use

Some children are not learning the language.

Language Development

Grammar. NT: 1984–1995.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Romani, Vlax

Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used for Kalderash dialect. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Albania

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

4,000 (2012 census). Ethnic population: 8,300 (2012 census).

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

South Albanian (Fieri, Korça), North Albanian, Gurbet.

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Gheg Albanian [aln], Tosk Albanian [als].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Ethnic groups are Mechkaria, Kurtofia, Chergaria, and Kabuzia. Christian.

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Austria

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Dialects

Austrian Lovari.

Status

5 (Developing).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

4,000 (2012 R. Hasic).

Alternate Names

Danubian, Gurbéti, Gypsy, Rom, Tsigene, Vlax

Dialects

Serbo-Bosnian (Machvano, Machwaya), Kalderash, Southern Vlax, Gurbet.

Status

5 (Developing).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Bulgaria

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

1,830 (2011 census).

Location

Sofiya province: Ihtiman.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Ihtiman.

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Bulgarian [bul].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Greece

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

1,000.

Location

Attica administrative unit: Ajia Varvara, suburb of Athens; Thessaly and Central Greece administrative unit: Karditsa regional unit, Sofades; Trikala regional unit; Epirus and Western Macedonia: Parakalamos.

Alternate Names

Rom, Romanés, Tsingani

Dialects

Lovari, Grekurja (Greco), Kalpazea, Filipidzía, Xandurja. Grekurja is probably Turkish [tur] influenced, distinct from Greek Romani dialect of Balkan Romani [rmn] (I. Hancock).

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Greek [ell], especially the settled population.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Nonsettled Gypsies are called Yifti. Distinct from Rumanovlach, a variety of Romanian. Christian.

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Hungary

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

54,300 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 309,000 (2011 census).

Alternate Names

Beás, Cigány, Roma

Dialects

Lovari (Hungarian Lovari), Cerhari.

Status

6a (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use Hungarian [hun].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Italy

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

4,000. 1,000–3,000 Kalderash, 1,000 Lovari.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Kalderash (Italian Kalderash), Lovari, Italian Xoraxane.

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Italian [ita].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Macedonia

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Dialects

Gurbet (Das, Džambazi).

Status

6a (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use Macedonian [mkd].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Mexico

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

5,000 (1993).

Location

Oaxaca state.

Dialects

Mexican Vlax.

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Spanish [spa].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Norway

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

500 (Johnstone 1993). Ethnic population: 3,500.

Location

Oslo county.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari (Norwegian Lovari).

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Norwegian [nor].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Poland

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

5,000.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari (Polish Lovari).

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Polish [pol].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Russian Federation

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

128,000 (2010 census). Census includes all Romani languages. Ethnic population: 205,000 (2010 census).

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Central Vlax Romani, Kalderash (Kelderash, Russian Kalderash), Crimean Romani, Lovari (Chokeshi Lovari). Russian Kalderash influenced by east Slavic, mainly Russian [rus] (I. Hancock).

Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Also use Russian [rus].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Vlax speakers from Russia are called Rusurja. Ethnic groups: Sárvi (left-bank Ukraine), Volóxuja (right-bank Ukraine), Chache (Moldavia), Kalderari (Moldavia, Ukraine, Odessa, Transcarpathia), Lovári (Ukraine). About 300,000 Gypsies from the former Soviet Union speak a variety of Romani, Lomavren, or Domari as L1 or L2 (Gunnemark and Kenrick 1985). Christian.

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Serbia

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari, Kalderash (Serbian Kalderash), Gurbet (Dzambazi, Gurbetsky).

Status

6a (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use Serbian [srp].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Slovakia

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Lovari, Kalderash (Kaldarári), Slovak Bougesti.

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Slovak [slk].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Sweden

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Population

10,500 (Parkvall 2009).

Location

Stockholm.

Alternate Names

Rom, “Zigenare” (pej.)

Dialects

Kalderash (Taikon Kalderash), Lovari, Arli, Machvano, Gurbet.

Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (2009, Language Act No. 600, Article 7).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian.

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Ukraine

Language nameRomani, Vlax

Location

East and west, Odessa, Transcarpathia.

Alternate Names

Rom

Dialects

Central Vlax Romani, Kalderash, Ukrainian Vlax.

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Ukrainian [ukr].

Other Comments

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Ethnologue

Romani, Vlax

Primary tabs

A language of Romania

Also spoken in:

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