INTERNATIONAL DAY

World Day of Romani Language

05.11

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We celebrate the World Day of Romani Language on November 5.

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THE ROMANI LANGUAGE

Photo credit, from top to bottom: Michael Schmid, Prasanna Kumar.

UNESCO proclaimed the World Day of Romani Language in 2015 to promote the preservation of Romani language and culture, improve the well-being of Romani people, and recognize the importance of all languages, whose diversity is a source of strength for all societies to share.

The Romani language has about 33,000 words and it represents a good basis for its modernization and final standardization. There are 17 dialects but speakers of different dialects can understand each other. There has been substantial work to create a standard idiom, but still, a lot of work has to be done.

UNESCO should continue to take the lead in enhancing intercultural dialogue, fostering cultural rapprochement especially by proclaiming World Day of Romani Language that will help further develop and research of Romani language in the Member States.

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

“The Romani language – Romani čhib – is the official language of Roma people the world over, enriched by a long history of migration and a wide and varied range of influences. It is also, however, a particularly fragile language. Because language is perhaps the primary element constituting a culture, that vulnerability threatens to affect Roma culture itself, thereby endangering a unique heritage that is the repository of a vast amount of knowledge. UNESCO aims to contribute to combating discrimination and promote inclusive societies, respectful of their cultural and linguistic diversity.”

— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Day of Romani Language

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