Learn Romani: Das-duma Rromanes [Paperback]

Ronald Lee (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1902806441 | ISBN-13: 978-1902806440 | Publication Date: August 1, 2005 | Edition: Bilingual

Following 18 carefully structured lessons, this Romani language primer explores the vocabulary and grammar of the Kalderash Roma in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Designed for beginner students, this course reference begins with the basic verbs and nouns and builds through to the subtler grammatical necessities of reading and speaking the language. Quotations from native speakers, poems, songs, proverbs, and folktales add to the cultural and historical understanding of the language.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ronald Lee is the president of the Romani Community and Advocacy Center in Toronto, Ontario. He is also the Canadian representative of the Roman National Congress and author of Goddam Gypsy. He teaches a course on the Romani diaspora in Canada at the University of Toronto. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: University Of Hertfordshire Press; Bilingual edition (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902806441
• ISBN-13: 978-1902806440
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look's great, November 5, 2005

By 

V.L. Mason (GA/FL line) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Learn Romani: Das-duma Rromanes (Paperback)

Hi there,

I'm Romani and I don't speak the language of my ancestors and there are many of us who don't. This books is perhaps a help in fostering a spirit of commonality among us, across the various subgroups that exist among us. I have purchased a copy and it looks very good. A number of people I know who are Romani plan to study the book online together and a few of those folks do know a bit of Romanes. It should be interesting.

As to the previous reviewer's negative comments about the police learning our secrets, sorry, that cat was let out of the bag over 100 years ago and the notion that this is damaging to us is unconvincing at best and absurd at worst. I think it will do just the opposite and help bring our people together. As to imposters, right! This is a joke, right?

Cheers,
Mengro, the Road Scholar

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great resource, as a language book needs improvement, January 5, 2010

By 

S. E. Wells (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Learn Romani: Das-duma Rromanes (Paperback)

First I would like to say I am very grateful to Mr. Lee for writing this book. I sing and play Romani and Balkan music in general and wanted to learn some of the language so I would have a better idea what I was singing, hearing and playing, and how to pronounce it.

I would like to see a different organization for the introduction of the language elements in the book. The order in which words and linguistic concepts were introduced in each chapter didn't seem to have an obvious reason behind them. For example I would like to see words that have opposites introduced in pairs, all the interrogatives introduced together, and I really wanted accusative case introduced sooner than the 3rd chapter, as it made it really hard to make useful, conversational sentences until then. Also, most beginning language books start out with basic conversational words and usage, including such things as greetings, "how are you," "I'm fine," etc., and I've found this a very useful approach. The verb "to be" is so important to language in general that I would want to see it introduced first (which would require accusative case as well).

Regardless, it is a valuable resource, and I recommend it for anyone wanting to learn basics of Romani language.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn Romani - Ronald Lee, May 25, 2009

By 

K. Spencer "Cypriania" (MIssouri) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Learn Romani: Das-duma Rromanes (Paperback)

Get a look into a language few know and is not widely spoken. Learn to accept and protect these people, not learning to help destroy them. Great book, great author, and easy format.