Yaron Matras est un linguiste distingué dont le travail explore en profondeur la langue et la culture romani. S'appuyant sur des fondations dans le domaine de la défense des droits et des droits civiques, sa carrière universitaire comprend des rôles éditoriaux importants, notamment pour Romani Studies. Matras a dirigé de vastes projets de recherche axés sur les migrations et la langue romani, contribuant par de nombreuses publications à souligner son dévouement de toute une vie. Sa maîtrise courante de la langue romani lui permet de saisir les subtilités de son expression avec une perspicacité et une profondeur remarquables.
Romani is a language of Indo-Aryan origin which is spoken in Europe by the people known as "Gypsies"--who usually refer to themselves as Rom. There are more than 3.5 million speakers, and their language has attracted increasing interest from scholars as well as language planners in governments and other organizations during the past ten years. This book is the first comprehensive overview in English of Romani, its structure, history, typology and dialects. It will provide an indispensable reference work for all interested in this fascinating language.
Their origins myths place them at the Crucifixion, homeless and fated to wander, with divine permission to steal for survival. In the Middle Ages, they were thought to have emerged from Egypt, yet their language contains Greek elements and traces back to India. The Romani people, one of the last societies in the Western hemisphere with a strictly oral culture, lack a written history. Since the early 1990s, linguist Yaron Matras has engaged with the 'Rom', traveling across central and eastern Europe to study their language and dialects while observing their quest for recognition. In this comprehensive account, Matras explores their culture, language, and history, revealing a rich past reflected in their customs and the impact of Europe’s changing fortunes on their identity. The Romani are unique: without territory, national sovereignty, or formal institutions, and lacking a tradition of land ownership. As the surrounding global society seeks to define itself, the future of the Roms remains uncertain. Unlike other marginalized groups that have gained some inclusion, they continue to struggle for their voice. To ensure their future, it is essential to modernize our understanding of them and move beyond outdated perceptions.
