Etymological Approaches

By Evangelos Z. Marselos

Philologist-Linguist

[Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM), honoring the author, Greece’s foremost and pioneer Romani linguist who died on 31 Januray 2002, translated his last known published text from the weekly “Historika” inserted, on Thursday 21 June 2001, in the daily “Eleftherotypia” – which kindly provided the original illustration from the original for GHM to upload on its Balkan Human Rights Pages website and distribute to its web lists].

Even with all the research to date, the remote history of the Gypsies [Tsinganoi in the Greek text] still remains obscure. It definitely has been proven mainly through linguistic study that all Gypsy branches have their origin in northwestern India. It is believed that the name Rom originated from the Sanskrit Dombas, which denoted the outcaste “street” groups (equivalent to English tramps) that were involved in the well-known itinerant Gypsy occupations. They are probably also related to other ethnological groups of northwestern India (Banjaras, Gaduliya – Lohar, etc.) that claim to be authentic Rajput (“princes,” nobility) and to be descended from the demigod hero Rama. The Gypsies themselves certainly do not advance such claims. However, it seems as though the ancient Egyptian word ram meant what Rom (Gypsy) means today: “man” (man of the race, one of our own). One can suppose that the word is “Indo-European” * Re-mon / Ro-mon / Ra-mon = intelligent from Ra = Res, Ras, Ros = solar, vital energy, reason, mind, analogous to * Men – Man (man – tsinganos. manush = Ger. Mensch), corresponding to the Greek Romi < * ñùò [Lat. ros, Skr. Rasa = juice, “dew” and virtue, manly (the etymological sequence cannot be shown here)]. Also, the Skr. rama(s) means “swarthy” and “beautiful” (i.e. sunbaked). This seems to be a hieratic, “magical” nomenclature from which Remus and Romulus, Roma also originate. The meanings of the root: (a) solar – vital energy, (b) continuous revolving motion, (c) reason, thought, action, from *R-er/ar, w(e)r….(see Plato’s “Cratylus”). In Sanskrit, Roman/Ramo was the name attributed to a “barbarous” people, mostly Romanas together with Yavanas (Ionians, Hellenes, Europeans).

            Here it is worth pointing out that besides the Indo-“Aryans” (noblemen, “aristocrats”), it is currently accepted that the “Negrito” Dravides migrated there from the Mediterranean in early prehistoric times. Indeed, the name Tamil (Tramilo) coincides with the ancient name for the Karoi - Lykoi: Trmilis (White Ants). As well as Dravidas (Draminas/Drominas, Dramidas) = Dromades: (Skr. dram = to wander, dravas = road, running). And the Telugu (Telugas = * Tilivoi) = Pelasgi coming from the coastline or the land (tilia). Of course, a linguistic hypothesis cannot by itself constitute historical proof.

            Gypsy and other “Rajput” racial, ethnologic groups appear to have been of mixed origin (varna), forming after the Hellenistic period and remaining for the most part marginalized or debased in the Hindu caste system. The Dombas, in fact, were among the “impure” castes (candala – “disgraced”), who were permitted to participate in Indian society only as pariahs (slaves). In fact (coincidentally?) the Greek word Athinganos corresponds to the term “untouchable” that defines these classes.

            However, there are subtle indications that, prior to the 8^th century, the Dombas of northwestern India (mainly Punjab and Kashmir) had begun to become accepted in local agricultural society, the Jatas (= Gentes, gentiles, indigenous, gentry), in opposition to contrary to the dictates of racist Hindu Manu laws. Furthermore, a socio-religious movement (Bhakti), with monotheistic features, was created, which came into conflict with the Hindu status quo since it proclaimed that “all people are equal as God’s creatures, regardless of color, race, class, origin.” Perhaps this is what first caused the Dombas to migrate to the West along with the Jatas, resulting in the reference to the Romani race Luras (Lor) along with the Zott (Jatas) in the 8^th century in the Middle East. It is possible, in fact, that the above religious sect, enriched with “Gnostic” (Manichean) beliefs, ended up as the Nestorian sect of the 8^th century Athingani.

            The name of the Lour or Nauar Gypsies is probably connected to Nurdistan, Afghanistan, from the parallel type Nur (in Arabic Nawar = Gypsy/Tsinganos). Another indication of the Westward course of the Rom through Punjab – Afghanistan – Turkmenistan, is the Gypsy name for the Turks/Muslims: Khorakhai (Korakhais) from the Turkmen dynasty Kara-khan.

            The name Sinti, the Central European branch of the Gypsies, refers to the Sindh – the Indus River and province of Pakistan (root sidh – sjand = flow, run, move). As well as to the Sinti of the Lower Danube and Thrace. Gypsy/Tsinganos also very likely is related to the ancient Sigynis (ancient Thracean people, hence “tsingounis” [miser]. In Ceylon (Sri Lanka) hingana (tsinganos) means simply “beggar,” like the Hungarian szegeny (pauper). The equivalent “tsingani” of Sri Lanka who descended from the Sindh are called Ahikundeka (“snake charmers”). All this looks like “scattered leaves” but it is worth some examination when one takes into consideration that for a nomadic people like the Gypsies/Tsingani (Roma), the borders between East and West, Europe and Asia do not have the absolute value that they do for today’s established urban nations. What is necessary is the expansion of archeological research of nomadic peoples. The reliance of archeological knowledge on stone, metal and writing now seems very limited given that analytical possibilities today rely on electronic and other means.