Romani Writing

Paola Toninato challenges common and popular depictions of Roma (commonly known as 'Gypsies') literacy by examining Roma literacy rates and the Roma's deep understanding of literacy and its implications, including the use of writing for a range of different purposes.

The Roma (commonly known as "Gypsies") have largely been depicted in writings and in popular culture as an illiterate group. However, as Romani Writing shows, the Roma have a deep understanding of literacy and its implications, and use writing for a range of different purposes. While some Romani writers adopt an "oral" use of the written medium, which aims at opposing and deconstructing anti-Gypsy stereotypes, other Romani authors use writing for purposes of identity-building. Writing is for Romani activists and intellectuals a key factor in establishing a shared identity and introducing a common language that transcends linguistic and geographical boundaries between different Romani groups. Romani authors, acting in-between different cultures and communication systems, regard writing as an act of cultural mediation through which they are able to rewrite Gypsy images and negotiate their identity while retaining their ethnic specificity. Indeed, Romani Writing demonstrates how Romani authors have started to create self-images in which the Roma are no longer portrayed as "objects", but become "subjects" of written representation.

Autorentext

Paola Toninato is a Research Fellow at the University of Warwick, UK. Her publications include The Creolization Reader, co-edited with Robin Cohen, and Differences on Stage, co-edited with Alessandra De Martino and Paolo Puppa.

Klappentext

The Roma (commonly known as "Gypsies") have largely been depicted in writings and in popular culture as an illiterate group. However, as Romani Writing shows, the Roma have a deep understanding of literacy and its implications, and use writing for a range of different purposes. While some Romani writers adopt an "oral" use of the written medium, which aims at opposing and deconstructing anti-Gypsy stereotypes, other Romani authors use writing for purposes of identity-building. Writing is for Romani activists and intellectuals a key factor in establishing a shared identity and introducing a common language that transcends linguistic and geographical boundaries between different Romani groups. Romani authors, acting in-between different cultures and communication systems, regard writing as an act of cultural mediation through which they are able to rewrite Gypsy images and negotiate their identity while retaining their ethnic specificity. Indeed, Romani Writing demonstrates how Romani authors have started to create self-images in which the Roma are no longer portrayed as "objects", but become "subjects" of written representation.

Inhalt

Introduction Part 1. Romani Literacies 1. Writing and the Gypsies 2. Educating the Gypsies 3. Education and Literacy Acquisition from a Romani Perspective Part 2. The Rise of Romani Literature 4. The Rise of Romani Writing: An Overview 5. Roma Writing Themselves 6. Theorising Romani Literature: Literary Categories and Textual Strategies Part 3. The Politics of Romani Writing 7. The Political Use of Romani Writing and the Rise of an International Romani Intelligentsia 8. The Mediating Role of Romani Literacy