Our language is a defense mechanism #romani #culture #gypsy #roma #language #historyfacts #india

[cameostark]

Language is power. As a native American with a language with no native speakers, I know how much having a language taken from you hurts. Language is power.

[elyeliza]

i'm Romanian (white) and this is so true. i've witness a lot of bad treatment my Romani friends went through. it's to the point that i remember being 12, in hospital, and in the same room as a 12yr old Romani girl. when we began talking she was trying to assure me that she's "not like the other Romani you hear about" and even claimed she didn't speak her language. back then i thought it was weird since i never asked her any questions and i was just trying to be friendly. i was even surprised by her attitude because i grew up around Romani people and i know they don't like that. it took her a few days to admit she knows the language and needed my phone to talk to her mother. she talked in her native language and kept looking at me to make sure i'm not upset or anything. i'll always remember her because of how devastating i found the whole thing. no kid should ever feel like that EVER

[noodles]

I am half Indian and half white. In the USA growing up I usually passed for white and never experienced discrimination on the street. I moved to Europe for graduate school. I was on many occasions assumed to be Roma and was treated very poorly. I still remember approaching an older German man to ask for directions at a train station, and while still a good six feet away him screaming at me to get away from him and not to steal from him. It was quite eye-opening. Because of my heritage I feel a sort of kinship with the Romani people.

[idbnicv]

As a linguist I had this twinge of frustration when I couldn’t find a lot of information on Romani, but this video really gave me the perspective I needed. Thank you

[opalishmoth]

As a Jew, I feel like I have a responsibility to remind the world we weren’t the only group who was systematically outcast from European societies and persecuted.
As an aside… I strangely love how you put notsee in the captions. They do not deserve to be called by their proper name.
We remember the people they hurt.
And we give every level of petty disrespect to the people who caused that pain.

[sunshinesp]

I am an Indian. I am shocked and appalled that we are not taught about our Romani brothers and sisters in school.
I am extremely sorry about what Romani people had to go through. Much love.

[richbaboon]

I really hope you branch out to making full length YouTube videos about Romani culture. Authentic and true Romani culture. I had bought this Kokum scarf from this Native American indigenous seller at a Pow Wow I went too here in the Pacific Northwest and it looks strikingly similar to what I have. I am subscribed

[lunyrobot]

There’s a really good book called “The Language of Thieves” by Martin Puchner that goes into the struggle between a language’s study and the necessity of its secrecy. It isn’t about Romani but a language called Rotwelsh, which is a mix of Yiddish, Romani, etc. Very interesting read, and I’d be curious to know what any Roma think of its ideas and portrayal of language.

[berjihnna]

when I was little, I had a white friend whom I wanted to learn how to speak Romani, but my mother overheard my conversation and told me in Romani that I shouldn't do that. later my grandmother explained to me why it is forbidden to teach other people Romani and she almost said everything you did in this video. by the way, I live in Serbia, which is literally a country that borders both Bulgaria and Romania, so it's not at all safe to teach outsiders Roma even if we know them well.

[violetskies]

Often learning someone's language is a sign of respect but sometimes not learning a language or trying to push into a space people were forced to build in order to protect themselves is more respectful.

[spicedcoffee]

Honestly this is why wish I learned Gullah growing up. It's q common language near the coast m for black people but it's dying out unfortunately.

[tabbyhope]

In the region where I live in Romania, Roma people have always talked openly in their language in front of everybody else. I can even remember, as a child, having Roma school classmates of similar age and they would teach us some Romani words, we loved it. I have never heard about what you are describing, but it may be true for some Roma people, in other parts of the country.

[ZeLeninovoMasoveRizoto]

Hey, as a Romani/Slavic person I'd like to note that while it's okay for you to consider the language closed, it's also worth mentioning that many of us don't consider it to be, not pretend like that's some kind of universal thing.

[joanmyron]

I've met several Romani people and we always talked and treated each other with respect.
A pregnant Romani woman helped me back in Sweden when I got lost/stuck (for a few days even). Only to find out she lived a few blocks down my street 😊

[szaftosporkolt]

As a Hungarian I would like to say sorry for all the things you have to endure, and I wish you all the best of luck and lots of blessings ❤

[shizuevoltam]

not to downplay the situation of romas but the language can be learned as there are a number of language institutes teaching it. it’s not a secret or something hidden anymore as it’s widely spoken when people are out and about. it’s also an accepted foreign language to learn and is worth credits at our universities.

[swag]

As an Indian I've seen TLC gypsy community weddings and I was like they are using Hindi words or am I wrong but turns out later I was right and proud of Romani people.
Hats off to you guys ❤😊

[theacecilia]

That's bullshit. Nobody in Romania learns the Roma language, especially not the policemen.

[shireads]

People don't realize how important language and culture is to the survival of enslave and oppressed people. I hope the Romani people are able to continue safeguarding their language and culture. Stay safe!

[Mikerina]

In Romania the policemen who learn romani have to because there are a lot of speakers who are criminals and repeteadly break the law. Not all are criminals, but that also doesn't mean that the police has something against rroms. Only talking about just a part of the truth just promotes discrimination.