Romani Language Standardisation PUBLISHER: Kali Sara Association Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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u A v th k d c ćh r Es g Rajko Đurić j p ROMANI c f LANGUAGE b z i STANDARDISATION e ćh m g Rajko Đurić Romani Language Standardisation PUBLISHER: Kali Sara Association Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina EDITORS: Sanela Bešić Dervo Sejdić Sandra Zlotrg TRA NSLATION: Context DESIGN: Jasmin Leventa PRINTING: Dobra knjiga d.o.o. CIRCULATION: 200 copies Association Kali Sara - Roma Information Center would like to thank all persons who contributed to the implementation of the project “Romani Language Standardisation for the Countries of Western Balkans”. We primarily thank our donors – UNICEF and Open Society Fund – who recognized the importance of this project and supported it, the consultants, working group participants – representatives of ministries, Romani language experts, representatives of Romani non-governmental organizations, and out key expert, professor Rajko Đurić without whom this document would not have been possible. Th is publication was funded by UNICEF BiH. Rajko Đurić Romani Language Standardisation KA LI SARA ASSOCIATION Sarajevo, 2012 FOREWORD BY DONORS UNICEF is committ ed to support and sustain quality education for every child in Bosnia and Herzegovina like everywhere in the world. We recognize the right of every child to speak his or her native language and to receive an education that respects the child’s own cultural identity and values. As stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child – Children belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities have the right to enjoy their own culture and to use their own language (Article 30). A language is not only a communication tool, it is also a way to understand and categorize one’s reality, knowledge, social relationships and emotions. Th rough the standardization of Roma language, we are one step closer to make it possible for Roma children of South Eastern Europe to read storybooks, cartoons and textbooks in their own language which has been accepted by all. An important gap has been bridged. Education systems shall now take necessary steps to institutionalize Roma language into the curricula as stipulated in the Revised Action Plan for Education of Roma and priorities of the Roma Decade 2005–2015. UNICEF believes that the standardization of Roma language will contribute to enhance access to quality education for Roma children and, herewith, to reduce dropout, illiteracy, poverty and so- cial exclusion. UNICEF, BiH Open Society Fund BiH promotes the establishment of a quality education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina that focuses on the students and their needs. Respecting and promoting diff erent educational needs, particularly those of the vulnerable and rights-deprived individuals and groups in the society, is and should be the obligation of all stakeholders in the educational process. Accountable and just education of quality means, inter alia, that all children are equally included in the process of learning and acquiring skills that lead to bett er life and bett er society. Th erefore, it is very important that each child and every member of society has an opportunity and a chance to express their feeling, thoughts, and skills through language. Roma children in Bosnia and Herzegovina do not have that opportunity – to learn about the world in their mother tongue, the one they are supposed to understand best. Standardization of Romani language thus represents an important prerequisite for the introduction of Romani language in the curricula and the creation of equal opportunities for Romani children, as well as for cherishing and preserving their language and cultural identity. At the same time, this represents a contribution to the implementation of the Framework Law on Education in BiH that guarantees to each minority the respect of their mother tongue and the opportunity to learn it. Open Society Fund BiH FOREWORD FOREWORD Romani language is in indivisible part of the identity of Roma communities. Roma identity and culture are recognized as an integral part of history of the countries in the region (with a special focus on Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina) because during the former Yugoslav Republic Roma communities shared the same living space and the second/offi cial language. Moreover, the Decade Action Plans developed in the countries of the region all include activities which recognize the importance or Romani language in the fi eld of education. eseTh activities include actions aiming at the development of school curricula and the training of teachers in Roma. Th ese activities should result with the introduction of Romani language classes in school aiming to meet the requirements of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. Th e new revised Action plan on education needs of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina (adopted at the 128th session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina) has recognized the importance of Romani language and the need for standardization of the language. Romani language is one of languages which have not developed unifi ed writt en standards. Th ere has never been an att empt to correct this situation as Romani language is spread amongst Roma communities in many countries in Europe and has many dialects. Th e fact that Romani language has never been standardized leads to the situation where there are no standards for the interregional cooperation and communication in Romani language, both spoken and writt en. Moreover, the fact that Roma communities are bi-lingual there are many words (especially word characterizing many technical actions and objects) which are “borrowed” from the local languages including the script which is infl uenced by the script used in the countries of the region. In order to improve the right to Romani language it will be necessary to develop didactical material which would be then used as a reference material for teachers and writers. Without a document containing a standardization of Romani language this task will not be able to achieve. During the Regional conference “Language, History and Culture of Roma – Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow” organized by Kali Sara – Roma Information Centre in June 2010 participants concluded that only 3-5 % of the members of the Roma communities use the Romani language in their daily activities and only 10-15% actually speak the language. Participants in this conference have agreed that there is clear need for a document which will include a standardized Romani language for the Roma communities living in this region in order to continue eff orts to institutionalize Romani language through educational curricula. Th e participants form the region have recognized the importance of the activities that Kali Sara has undertaken in the past and they have invited Kali Sara – Roma Information Centre to organize an expert group with prominent experts in this fi eld in the region by the end of the 2010. 7 ROMANI LANGUAGE STANDARDISATION CONCLUSIONS OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE EXPERT WORKING GROUP FOR STANDARDIZATION OF THE ROMANI LANGUAGE FOR WESTERN BALKA N COUNTRIES HELD IN THE PERIOD JULY 29-30, 2011, JAHORINA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Considering the fact that the Romani language is one of the key elements of the national and cultural identity of Roma people and that due to that reason the negation or denial of the Romani language in any form is negation and denial of the identity of Roma people, their human rights and fr eedoms that are guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Declaration of United Nations on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Language Minorities, Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of UNESCO, European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities of OSCE and the Oslo Recommendations Regarding the Language Rights of National Minorities of OSCE, as well as other universal and regional instruments and agreements signed by countries of the region; Considering the fact that the constitutions of all Western Balkan countries recognize the status of national minorities for Roma people and guarantee them rights resulting fr om the status, including also the right to the offi cial use of language and alphabet, education and information; Accepting the fact that the Romani language has common characteristics in the Western Balkan countries that resulted fr om the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; Recognizing important eff orts that have been made by renowned experts and NGOs in relation to the promotion of language and culture of Roma in Western Balkan countries; During the fi rst meeting of the expert working group held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the period July 29-30, 2011, participants fr om Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Kosovo adopted the following: C O N C L U S I O N S 1. Due to the fact that Romani language spoken in Western Balkan countries resulting from the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has common characteristics, the participants agreed that working on these issues is in their mutual interest and that it is necessary to use the experiences of renowned experts for Romani language active in the region; 2. For the purpose of coordination and effi cient work on issues and tasks related to Romani language policy and mother tongue education of Roma people from Western Balkan countries it was concluded to establish a regional expert working group that will include renowned experts for Romani language of the countries of the region; 3. Th e participants unanimously adopted the conclusion to appoint professor Rajko Đurić the president of the working group and key expert in draft ing of the Standardization document; 4.