Etnologie a romistika - hine abo nane pheňa?

• Authors: Jana Poláková

Title variants

Ethnology and Romani studies – hine abo nane pheňa?

• Languages of publication: CS

Abstracts

EN

Even today, Roman studies are not a preferred or widespread scientific branch in this country. It is not possible to aim the study of the Romani history and culture at any particular ethnological category because there are subethnic Romani groups widespread all over the world. Most of the experts therefore focus on a certain region, selected part of history and culture or on a certain subethnic group. The roots of the Romani studies in the Czech Republic go back to the 1960’s and are connected with the names of Phdr. Eva Davidová and doc. Milena Hübschmannová. Up to this day, no programme focused on the Romani culture and history exists apart from the department of Romani studies in the Indological Institute at Charles University in Prague and the lecture and tutorial activities of the employees of the Museum of Romani Culture. In the work of this museum, it is necessary to use the ethnological knowledge. In some cases, it is utilized completely. Another time, it is necessary to use comparative linguistics, both in the relationship Romani - non-Romani and in the relationship Romani - Romani. Some terms that are normally used in ethnology, e.g. folk costume, are entirely improper in the case of the Romani culture. The results of the Romani studies should be utilized in other scientific branches as well. In practice, what prevails is the misunderstanding of the Romani models of behaviour and the effort to substitute them with majority customs, which leads to mutual alienation and mistrust.

Keywords

EN

Romani studies; Romanis; subethnic groups; comparative linguistics; intolerance

Discipline

• ETHNOLOGY: ETHNOLOGY

• Publisher: Czech Ethnological Society
• Journal: Národopisný věstník
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 26_(68)
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 130-134
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Jana Poláková

• Česká národopisná společnost, z. s., Národní třída 3, 117 20 Praha 1, Czech Republic