Romani: Mashkar le gadjende leski shib si le Romeski zor : Re: Re: Romany loan words in Scots

» rkhen - Re: Re: Romany loan words in Scots

Street language will do that to you. Traditionally it's viewed as limited and impoverished, which of course is a ridiculous hypothesis. Unlike standard speech, street lingo is undisciplined, with no "authorities" to tell speakers how to fill gaps or where and when to borrow words. As a result, it tends to draw on wonderfully diverse sources, which in turn makes it so expressive (and contagious).

As for hickory, dickory, dock, as a non-Rom speaker I can't answer that one. However, I got the information from a source that I trust. I must say that the examples you cite suggest a link, though as you point out, they don't establish one. I suspect it boils down to two things: the incredible diversity of Rom traditions, and centuries of being recited by non-Rom speakers. (You should see how far some alleged First Nations words have travelled in English and French!)

Thanks for the interesting points, Spikey.

-- posted by rkhen