Gažikanes or Romanes? Language attitudes of one Olah Roma community in Eastern Slovakia toward the three locall used languages
Abstract
The study based on author's long term research in a subethnically mixed Romani village inhabited by Vlax/Lovari and Non- Vlax Roma, speakers of Northern Central Romani in Eastern Slovakia. Members of each ethnic group have different views on language values, and the meaning of the language of higher prestige in described diglotic situation is always very suicentric: each speech community regard its own language as code connected with higher prestige.
The study is concerning on the language behavior and attitudes of Vlax Roma, for whom plays Vlax Romani the role of a cornerstone of Vlax identity and the symbol of high social prestige. Language attitudes of the Vlax Roma do not decribe only their own stands to the languages, but also reflect the meaning of the social position and social status of the speech communities.
For Vlax Roma, every language in the polyglotic situation is connected with specific domains, which are shared and known by all the members of the Vlax groups. This language behavior is also visible in the interactions between Roma and Non-roma, and certain situations are full of using of different kind of strategies, such as paralel communication, demonstration of ethnic status, hidden language plays and purposeful making of invisibility.
Romanes covers all domains of inter-romani communication of Vlax Roma, in private and also public space. Gažikanes (Slovak language) used only for communication with Non-Roma, intra-romani communication.
Using of this code among Roma is very exceptional, connected with lower status or can be connected with discoursive code switching.