Dresden spricht … Romanes

Language

Romani has its roots in Indian, as the Roma migrated from India to Europe in the 11th century. The language developed from Sanskrit and other Indian languages and, over time, absorbed influences from the various countries in which the Roma lived.

Romani is not a uniform language, but consists of different dialects that vary depending on the region and ethnic group. The best-known dialects include Vlach-Romanes, Kalderash, Lovari and many others. During migration and settlement in Europe, the Roma adopted words and expressions from the languages of the countries in which they lived, including Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian and many others.

Romani is mainly spoken by Roma communities in Europe, especially in countries such as Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. There are also Romani communities in other parts of the world, including the USA and Canada.

The language plays an important role in the cultural identity of the Roma. It is used in music, storytelling and oral tradition and is an important part of Roma culture.

The use of this ancient language faces challenges as many Roma live in countries where their language is not officially recognized.

Script

Romanes is generally written using the Latin alphabet. However, there are some differences in spelling, depending on the dialect and region. There is no standardized orthography for Romani, and spelling varies by dialect and region. Some communities have developed their own standards, while others use informal spellings. In some regions, letters or diacritical marks originating from the languages of the countries in which the Roma live may also be used to indicate specific sounds.

In recent years, there have been efforts to develop a more standardized spelling to promote understanding and preservation of the language, but the diversity of dialects and regional differences remains.

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