Romani, Balkan

A language of Serbia

Roma, “Balkan Gypsy” (pej.)

Autonym

Romani, Romani ćhib

User Population

101,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD). 100,000 Arlija. Total users in all countries: 802,840 (as L1: 602,840; as L2: 200,000).

Location

Kosovo: scattered.

Language Maps

Bulgaria

Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification

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

Dialects

Arli (Arlije, Kosovan Arli), Prizren (Kosovan Romani), Tinners Romani, Bugurdži Romani (Arabadži, Kovački, Rabadži), Pazardžik Kalajdži. Arlija dialect (252,000–367,000 total) understood by Greek Romani and Dzambazi. A member of macrolanguage Romany [rom].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2015.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Romani, Balkan

Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used in Bulgaria. Greek script [Grek], used in Greece. Latin script [Latn], used in Serbia.

Other Comments

Ethnic group: Jerlídes (North Macedonia, southern Serbia). Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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Bulgaria

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

481,000 in Bulgaria, all users. L1 users: 281,000 in Bulgaria (2011 census). 100,000 Arlija, 20,000 Dzambazi, 10,000 Tinsmiths, 10,000 East Bulgarian. L2 users: 200,000 (Gunnemark and Kenrick 1985).

Location

Scattered near urban areas; Burgas, Gabrovo, Grad Sofiya, Sliven, and Sofiya provinces; Stara Zagora province: Kazanlak municipality. From Sofia to the Black Sea (Central dialect); central and northwest Bulgaria (Tinsmiths’ dialect); Sofia region (Arlija dialect); Sliven and Varna provinces (Drindari dialect).

Alternate Names

Gypsy

Dialects

Arli (Erli, Sofia Erli), Tinners Romani, Greek Romani, Dzambazi, East Bulgarian Romani, Paspatian, Ironworker Romani, Drindari (Chalgijis, Kitajis), Pazardžik Kalajdži, Khorakhani.

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Ethnic groups: Jerlídes (western Bulgaria), Drindári (central Bulgaria). Muslim.

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France

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

10,500 in France. 10,000 Arlija, 500 Dzambazi.

Dialects

Arli, Dzambazi.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Germany

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

3,500 in Germany. 2,000 Arlija and 1,500 Dzambazi.

Location

Scattered.

Dialects

Arli (Erli), Dzambazi.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Greece

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

40,000 in Greece (1996 B. Igla). 10,000 Arlija, 30,000 Greek Romani.

Location

Epirus (Romancilikanes dialect); Western Macedonia (Serres dialect); Peloponnese region: (Pyrgos dialect).

Dialects

Sepečides Romani (Greek Romani, Sepeči), Arli (Arlije, Erli), Serres, Romancilikanes, Pyrgos.

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use Greek [ell].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Christian, Muslim.

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Iran

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

35,900 in Iran (2019).

Location

Qazvin Province: Abyek district, Zargar village.

Alternate Names

Romani ćhib

Dialects

Zargari Romani, Romano.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Shifting to Iranian Persian [pes].

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Italy

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

5,000 in Italy (1990).

Dialects

Arli (Erli).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Moldova

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

7,570 in Moldova (2014 census).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Romani ćhib

Dialects

Ursári (Usari).

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Ethnic groups: Ursári (Moldova), Karamítika (Ukraine), Romá (Crimean Peninsula). Muslim.

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Montenegro

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

5,170 in Montenegro (2011 census).

Location

Berane, Bijelo Polje, Herceg Novi, Nikši, and Podgorica municipalities.

Alternate Names

Romani ćhib

Dialects

Arli.

Language Status

5* (Developing).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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North Macedonia

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

40,300 in North Macedonia (2018). Ethnic population: 57,200 (2018).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Romani ćhib

Dialects

Arli (Arlije), Tinners Romani, Prilep, Bugurdži Romani (Arabadži, Kovački, Rabadži), Pazardžik Kalajdži.

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Ethnic group: Jerlídes (Macedonia, southern Serbia). Muslim.

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Romania

Language NameRomani, Balkan

Location

Scattered. Black Sea region.

Alternate Names

Romani ćhib

Dialects

Moldovan Ursari (Ursári, Usari), Spoitor.

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Many moved to Germany since 1989. Muslim.

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Turkey

Language NameRomani, Balkan

User Population

72,900 in Turkey (2019).

Location

Widespread west: Izmir (Sepečides) and Edirne (Rumelian) provinces.

Alternate Names

Romani ćhib

Dialects

Sepečides Romani (Sepeči), Rumelian Romani.

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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Ukraine

Language NameRomani, Balkan

Location

Kharkiv region.

Dialects

Crimean Romani (Kyrymitika Roma).

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Development

Printed or pre-recorded Romani language materials may not be understandable outside the country (or context of surrounding languages) in which they were produced.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Romani, Balkan

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A language of Serbia

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