Promotion of Romani-Montenegrin and Montenegrin-Romani Language Dictionary by Dr. Hedina Tahirović-Sijerčić, published recently in edition of the Center for Preservation and Development of the Cultures of National Minorities in Montenegro (CEKUM) was held on November 8 in the National Library of Montenegro in Cetinje.
Salko Luboder, director of CEKUM, Dr. Vesna Delić, reviewer and prof. Dr. Igor Lakić, reviewer took part in the program.
The dictionary, the first written in the dialect used by speakers of the Romani language in Montenegro, will, according to Mr. Luboder, have the function of a shield against assimilation and loss of identity characteristics.
“It is a well-known fact that the Roma are practically on the margins of Montenegrin society, and unfortunately not only Montenegrin, and this dictionary offers a chance to change that situation. At the same time, it should contribute to a more intensive, meaningful and effective introduction of Romani people into the social flows of Montenegrin society”, said Luboder.
Mrs. Delić agreed with him and she pointed out that the Dictionary is extremely important not only for the preservation of the language as the main element of the intangible cultural heritage of Montenegrin Romani people groups, but also for the preservation of the Romani community as a whole.
“The dictionary is a kind of the Alphabet Book of the Romani language, on the basis of which it will be possible to train the necessary Romani personnel in some of the future academic programs in Montenegro. In this way, the conditions will be met for the Romani language to be included in the formal and informal education systems, which, ultimately, has been expected from Montenegro for a long time”, Delić said.
This publication, as specified by Mr. Lakić, has 9000 entries in the Romani-Montenegrin variant and 9800 entries in the Montenegrin-Romani variant. Also, in the Romani-Montenegrin version of the Dictionary, certain terms are illustrated with sentences or examples in Romani and their equivalent translations to the Montenegrin language.
“Keeping in mind the value of this dictionary for the Romani community in Montenegro, for the educational authorities that plan to introduce Romani language in the educational system of Montenegro, as well as for the state's obligations under the Charter on Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe, to which Montenegro is a signatory, I believe that this Dictionary represents not only a serious professional and scientific achievement, but opens the way for further work on the protection and improvement of the Romani language in Montenegro, which at the same time brings protection to the Romani community from assimilation and loss of its own identity”, concluded Lakić.
Within the program, an exhibition of publications in the Romani language and their translations, prepared by the librarian Bojana Joksimović, was set up in the Library's hall.
Promotion of Romani-Montenegrin and Montenegrin-Romani Language Dictionary by Dr. Hedina Tahirović-Sijerčić, published recently in edition of the Center for Preservation and Development of the Cultures of National Minorities in Montenegro (CEKUM) was held on November 8 in the National Library of Montenegro in Cetinje.
Salko Luboder, director of CEKUM, Dr. Vesna Delić, reviewer and prof. Dr. Igor Lakić, reviewer took part in the program.
The dictionary, the first written in the dialect used by speakers of the Romani language in Montenegro, will, according to Mr. Luboder, have the function of a shield against assimilation and loss of identity characteristics.
“It is a well-known fact that the Roma are practically on the margins of Montenegrin society, and unfortunately not only Montenegrin, and this dictionary offers a chance to change that situation. At the same time, it should contribute to a more intensive, meaningful and effective introduction of Romani people into the social flows of Montenegrin society”, said Luboder.
Mrs. Delić agreed with him and she pointed out that the Dictionary is extremely important not only for the preservation of the language as the main element of the intangible cultural heritage of Montenegrin Romani people groups, but also for the preservation of the Romani community as a whole.
“The dictionary is a kind of the Alphabet Book of the Romani language, on the basis of which it will be possible to train the necessary Romani personnel in some of the future academic programs in Montenegro. In this way, the conditions will be met for the Romani language to be included in the formal and informal education systems, which, ultimately, has been expected from Montenegro for a long time”, Delić said.
This publication, as specified by Mr. Lakić, has 9000 entries in the Romani-Montenegrin variant and 9800 entries in the Montenegrin-Romani variant. Also, in the Romani-Montenegrin version of the Dictionary, certain terms are illustrated with sentences or examples in Romani and their equivalent translations to the Montenegrin language.
“Keeping in mind the value of this dictionary for the Romani community in Montenegro, for the educational authorities that plan to introduce Romani language in the educational system of Montenegro, as well as for the state's obligations under the Charter on Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe, to which Montenegro is a signatory, I believe that this Dictionary represents not only a serious professional and scientific achievement, but opens the way for further work on the protection and improvement of the Romani language in Montenegro, which at the same time brings protection to the Romani community from assimilation and loss of its own identity”, concluded Lakić.
Within the program, an exhibition of publications in the Romani language and their translations, prepared by the librarian Bojana Joksimović, was set up in the Library's hall.