The Acquisition of English by American Romani Children

Abstract

There are probably over one million Rom (”Gypsies”) in the United States and Canada, the majority of whom maintain the ancestral language (Romanés) and culture (Romania) which had their origins in north central India over a millenium ago. The history of Rom in North America may be traced from the sixteenth century, when Gypsy slaves were transported from Britain. The greatest influx, however, took place during the last half of the nineteenth century following the abolition of Romani slavery in Central Europe.

There are various nations of Gypsies in the United States and Canada, each with slightly differing customs and dialects of the parent language. All, however, remain culturally insulated from the Gažó (i.e., non-Gypsy) world and, as a result, English is acquired in ways often different from other non-English-speaking groups in these countries.

This article examines the varieties of Romanés spoken in North America, and the social background(s), and examines the main linguistic features of the principal dialects, which can often be related to the most common faults evident in English language performance. Corrective factors, usually subliminal rather than intended, are discussed, as well as Romani attitudes towards English, and some space is devoted to possible future trends.