Baltic Romani

Not to be confused with Baltic languages.

Baltic Romani^[a] is a group of dialects of the Romani language spoken in the Baltic states and adjoining regions of Finland, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Half of Baltic Romani speakers live in Poland. Baltic Romani came from the Central Romani dialect, which branches off into other dialects. There are a total of around 31,500 users in all countries.^[2]

Baltic Romani
Native to	Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Finland, Ukraine
Native speakers	46,000, including 14,000 in Poland and 10,000 in Finland (2001–2013)[1]
Language family	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan Central Zone Romani Northern Romani Baltic Romani
Language codes
ISO 639-3	rml
Glottolog	balt1257  Baltic Romani
ELP	Baltic Romani

Classification

Baltic Romani are variations of the Romani language, which is classified in the Indo-Aryan language family.^[3]

History

The first speakers of this language settled in Southeast Europe during the 10th and 13th centuries in large swaths. From the 14th century onward, the language spread to Central and Western Europe as well. Comparisons between other languages later revealed it most likely originated from the Indian subcontinent.^[4]

Geographic distribution

This language is spoken in the following countries:^[5]

• Poland: 13,600
• Belarus: 12,000
• Estonia: 360–460
• Latvia: 8,000
• Lithuania: 1,350
• Russian Federation

Official status

This language is not an official language in any particular country, though it has other statuses in those which it is spoken.^[5]

Dialects and varieties

• Čuxny Romani in Estonia (CL: Estonian, Russian)
• Finnish Romani (Fíntika Rómma; Finnish: Kalo) (CL: Finnish)
• Latvian Romani (Lotfitka) in Latvia, Estonia and Russia
• Lithuanian Romani in Lithuania and Belarus
• North Russian Romani (Xaladitka) in Baltic Russia and Belarus, spoken by the Ruska Roma
• Belarusian Romani or Belarus–Lithuanian Romani^[6] (Belarusko, Belaruskone-Litouskonengiro rakireben^[7]) in Belarus,^[8] spoken by the Belaruska Roma and Litovska Roma.
• Polska Roma and Sasytka Roma ( German Roma not to be confused with Sinti ) in Poland (CL: Polish)

Phonology

There are three simple stop positions in the Romani language. These come from the Indo-Aryan and are maintained in every dialect of this language. The positions are as follows; labial /p/, dental /t/, and velar /k/. Along with these stop positions, there are also palatal positions which are unique to the Romani language.^[9] Specific voicing alterations have changed grammatical endings and different dialects have different ways of interpreting vowels. Some have morphed into newer versions of the Romani language and others have implemented other elements like screams.^[10]

Grammar

In the Romani language, nouns and verbs are inflected to illustrate how a word acts in a sentence, similar to in other fusional languages like Sanskrit and Latin.^[11][12] As in other Indo-Aryan languages, as well as in Romance and Slavic languages, Romani also has grammatical gender, as there are both masculine and feminine words. In addition, there are definite articles along with "different articles for masculine and feminine nouns, for subject and non-subject and for singular and plural articles".^[13]

Syntax

Baltic Romani has a unique rule in that their numerals follow when they are written. Their numerals govern their nominals, but not to the degree that Slavic languages do.^[14] Baltic genitives mark partial objects and sometimes subjects and also play a prominent role in the syntax of numeral constructions. Baltic languages are similar, as both Latvian and Latvian Romani share the same opposition of preverbs and verb particles.^[15]

Vocabulary

There is a large Indo-Aryan presence in this language that appears mainly in reference to body parts and functions.^[16] Along with bodily parts and functions, the Indo-Aryan presence also resides in words that reference time, nature, landscape, numerals, animals, and plants.^[17] There is a pre-European lexicon that is mixed in this language that mainly refers to spiritual and religious ideas, tools, and artifacts.^[17] Dwellings and places are not represented the best in the inherited lexicon of this language.^[18]

Notes

1. Also called Balt Romani, Balt Slavic Romani, Baltic Slavic Romani, and colloquially as Roma.