Call me Roma, not Gypsy

Language is one of the tools to maintain structures of discrimination and should be confronted directly

Photo by B. Novak, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A Tool of Discrimination

There will be some members of the Roma and Traveller community who have no issue with describing themselves or being described as 'gypsy'. On social media, the term 'GRT' - Gypsy, Roma and Travellers - is used as a non-offensive descriptor and, indeed, some organisations which defend and further Roma rights utilise the term. This is not an issue. Like heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury who anoints himself the 'Gypsy King', reclaiming a racial slur can sometimes take back power from oppressors. However, the history of the term 'gypsy' should be understood. Whether used innocently or with racist intent, 'gypsy' has problematic roots, and should be discussed openly in order for those who identify as Roma, Traveller or indeed Gypsy to make an informed decision about how they should be referred.

Throughout Europe, there have been fierce debates regarding the language used to describe Roma and Travellers. In February of this year, a panel on a current affairs discussion show in Germany unanimously decided that the term 'Zigueuner' in German - roughly translated as 'gypsy' - was legitimate to use when referring to Roma and Sinti communities. As I watched the original video, something in me twisted as I saw an all-white panel - no Roma voices - stamp the term with a seal of approval. A term which conjures up black and white images of men, women and children with 'Zs' on their arms being transported to their deaths during the Holocaust.

Why should Roma communities continually be described as something that is offensive? The problem is that terms such as 'Zigueuner' and 'gypsy' are ingrained into the fabric of German and British societies respectfully, especially to describe those who fit a certain race, lifestyle and or culture.

The social media backlash to the panel on the German talk show was varied. Some had no idea that the term is perceived as being offensive and were eager to learn more. Some defended the use of the word and blamed Roma and Sinti for applying negative connotations. Some took the opportunity to racially abuse Roma activists online who opposed its use. This is not a minor issue. Language is one of the tools to maintain structures of discrimination and should be confronted directly.

A Loaded Misnomer

In English, the term 'gypsy' is widely and misguidedly used to describe a bohemian-chic lifestyle or free spirit. Just take a look at Instagram for some misplaced uses of ‘#gypsy’. In the world of fashion, spreads in magazines still sometimes use 'gypsy' to describe a romanticised version of freedom. It is curious that people who are not Roma or Travellers profit from the word 'gypsy', but have no understanding that the term (in various languages) is used to racially abuse and further marginalise a whole people group. Furthermore, the term 'gypsy' often seems to exoticise Roma women, who already having to battle a unique blend of racism and sexualisation in their real lives, do not need deeply offensive stereotypes to be solidified by influential actors in society.

Furthermore, ‘gypsy’ is a misnomer. In the first half of the first millennium, Roma started migrating from Northern India and, from about 1100 A.D, reports emerged of Roma communities settling in modern day Greece. By the beginning of the 14th century, Roma could be found all over Europe, from London to Moscow and Seville to Vilnius. Medieval scholars had no idea where the Roma came from and, as recorded in manuscripts at the time, the skin colour of Roma and their origin were subject to early othering. Such was the mystery in Medieval Europe, it became a popular belief that Roma came from Egypt. 'Egyptian' to 'Gitano' to 'Gypsy'. You can see how the language developed. Even expulsions were aimed at 'Egyptians' - which we now know were Roma communities - and the UK was no exception when passing the Egyptians Act in 1530 to remove Roma from England under the reign of Henry VIII.

Despite the negative origins of ‘gypsy’, it is noteworthy that Western societies are increasingly glorifying nomadic lifestyles. Indeed, you will often find stories on social media describing, or even celebrities espousing, ‘living off the land’ or ‘going back to nature’. As the UK government moves to criminalise the traditional way of life for many British Roma and Travellers - by making unauthorised stopping a criminal offence and imposing sanctions which include police confiscating caravans - a baffling situation has emerged. Do those not from Roma and Traveller communities have more of a right to live a nomadic lifestyle than those who are actually from those communities?

Cikán 

Feelings about the term ‘gypsy’ will be different for every individual who identifies as Roma or Traveller. Coming from a Czech Roma perspective, when someone uses the word 'gypsy', it reminds me of translations of that term which are used explicitly to marginalise Roma communities. Many people in the UK would not know that I am Roma by merely looking at me. However, when I walk down the cobbled streets of Prague or enter its shops, that all changes. I have often been referred to as 'cikán' (the Czech equivalent of 'gypsy') which is similar to the Romanian word 'țigan'. This is a racial slur. Too many times have I seen security guards in Czech shops radio to other colleagues that a 'cikán' has entered or mothers telling their children to move away from a group of 'cikánské' children.

Linguistically, 'cikán' orginates from the Greek word for untouchable and has pejorative origins rooted in tarnishing a whole ethnic group as being prone to stealing and begging. Although the origin of the word is not clear, it may also have been a synonym for someone who was maladjusted to society. These insidious stereotypes are repeated to this day, even by the President of Czechia who has defended his description of the majority of Roma as 'inadaptable'. The term 'gypsy' in English has a similar backstory. From classic literature to today's playgrounds, the term 'gypped' is still used to describe something as being stolen or someone being deceived of property.

The simple fact is this: there is no word in any Romani dialect (Romanes) which can be translated as 'gypsy'. In many dialects, Roma would refer to males in the community as 'Rom' and females in the community as 'Romni'. The word 'gypsy' is a majority population construct - an exonym - and is used not just as a mere descriptor, but also as a tool to demonise those who look like they are from a certain ethnic background. Language is part of normalised racism.

What Should I Call You?

You don't say...gypsy, tzigane or Zigeuner because you respect the person. [Call] us the way we call ourselves, which in our own language in Roma

Zeljko Jovanovic, Director of Open Society Foundations' Roma Initiative

This year’s International Roma Day (8 April) was particularly poignant. Roma communities and allies celebrated the 50th anniversary of the First World Romani Congress which, in 1971, saw Roma representatives from nine European countries met for the first time in the UK. At the Congress, the idea of the Roma Nation was first discussed and, as such, a flag and anthem were adopted. Additionally, the majority of the attendees agreed that the descriptor 'Roma' should be used universally to describe communities who had been labelled as 'gypsies'.

The umbrella term of 'Roma' is admittedly not perfect as, for example, Travellers and Sinti communities may not choose to identify as Roma. However, the First World Romani Congress gave an important grounding for what language is acceptable to use. Language which respects not degrades Roma communities globally. Language which is not imposed by majority populations on Roma and Travellers, but chosen by the communities themselves.

On a human level, I would give this advice. If you do not know how to refer to someone from a Roma or Traveller background, just ask. You may be asked to use Roma, Traveller, Sinti, Lom, Dom, Lovari, Ashkali, Romanichal or any other term used to describe the wonderfully diverse group of peoples referred to as ‘Roma’. Giving power back to Roma and Travellers to decide their own label is vital and it is incumbent on all actors in society, including influential companies and mainstream media, to encourage this much overdue change in language surrounding the Roma and Traveller communities.