按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
schemes of pillage and deceit。 Whatever is visible and common is
seldom or never represented by the Persians； even in their books；
by the help of Arabic words： the sun and stars； the sea and river；
the earth； its trees； its fruits； its flowers； and all that it
produces and supports； are seldom named by them by other terms than
those which their own language is capable of affording； but in
expressing the abstract thoughts of their minds； and they are a
people who think much and well； they borrow largely from the
language of their religion … the Arabic。 We therefore； perhaps；
ought not to be surprised that in the scanty phraseology of the
Gitanos； amongst so much Persian； we find so little that is Arabic；
had their pursuits been less vile； their desires less animal； and
their thoughts less circumscribed； it would probably have been
otherwise； but from time immemorial they have shown themselves a
nation of petty thieves； horse…traffickers； and the like； without a
thought of the morrow； being content to provide against the evil of
the passing day。
The following is a comparison of words in the three languages：…
Hungarian Spanish Moorish
Gypsy。（72） Gitano。 Arabic。
Bone Cokalos Cocal Adorn
City Forjus Foros Beled
Day Dives Chibes Youm
Drink （to） Piava Piyar Yeschrab
Ear Kan Can Oothin
Eye Jakh Aquia Ein
Feather Por Porumia Risch
Fire Vag Yaque Afia
Fish Maczo Macho Hutz
Foot Pir Piro； pindro Rjil
Gold Sonkai Sonacai Dahab
Great Baro Baro Quibir
Hair Bala Bal Schar
He； pron。 Wow O Hu
Head Tschero Jero Ras
House Ker Quer Dar
Husband Rom Ron Zooje
Lightning Molnija Maluno Brak
Love （to） Camaba Camelar Yehib
Man Manusch Manu Rajil
Milk Tud Chuti Helib
Mountain Bar Bur Djibil
Mouth Mui Mui Fum
Name Nao Nao Ism
Night Rat Rachi Lila
Nose Nakh Naqui Munghar
Old Puro Puro Shaive
Red Lal Lalo Hamr
Salt Lon Lon Mela
Sing Gjuwawa Gilyabar Iganni
Sun Cam Can Schems
Thief Tschor Choro Haram
Thou Tu Tucue Antsin
Tongue Tschib Chipe Lsan
Tooth Dant Dani Sinn
Tree Karscht Caste Schizara
Water Pani Pani Ma
Wind Barbar Barban Ruhk
We shall offer no further observations respecting the affinity of
the Spanish Gitano to the other dialects； as we conceive we have
already afforded sufficient proof of its original identity with
them； and consequently shaken to the ground the absurd opinion that
the Gitanos of Spain are the descendants of the Arabs and Moriscos。
We shall now conclude with a few remarks on the present state of
the Gitano language in Spain； where； perhaps； within the course of
a few years； it will have perished； without leaving a vestige of
its having once existed； and where； perhaps； the singular people
who speak it are likewise doomed to disappear； becoming sooner or
later engulfed and absorbed in the great body of the nation；
amongst whom they have so long existed a separate and peculiar
class。
Though the words or a part of the words of the original tongue
still remain； preserved by memory amongst the Gitanos； its
grammatical peculiarities have disappeared； the entire language
having been modified and subjected to the rules of Spanish grammar；
with which it now coincides in syntax； in the conjugation of verbs；
and in the declension of its nouns。 Were it possible or necessary
to collect all the relics of this speech； they would probably
amount to four or five thousand words； but to effect such an
achievement； it would be necessary to hold close and long
intercourse with almost every Gitano in Spain； and to extract； by
various means； the peculiar information which he might be capable
of affording； for it is necessary to state here； that though such
an amount of words may still exist amongst the Gitanos in general；
no single individual of their sect is in possession of one…third
part thereof； nor indeed； we may add； those of any single city or
province of Spain； nevertheless all are in possession； more or
less； of the language； so that； though of different provinces； they
are enabled to understand each other tolerably well； when
discoursing in this their characteristic speech。 Those who travel
most are of course best versed in it； as； independent of the words
of their own village or town； they acquire others by intermingling
with their race in various places。 Perhaps there is no part of
Spain where it is spoken better than in Madrid； which is easily
accounted for by the fact； that Madrid； as the capital； has always
been the point of union of the Gitanos； from all those provinces of
Spain where they are to be found。 It is least of all preserved in
Seville； notwithstanding that its Gitano population is very
considerable； consisting； however； almost entirely of natives of
the place。 As may well be supposed； it is in all places best
preserved amongst the old people； their children being
comparatively ignorant of it； as perhaps they themselves are in
comparison with their own parents。 We are persuaded that the
Gitano language of Spain is nearly at its last stage of existence；
which persuasion has been our main instigator to the present
attempt to collect its scanty remains； and by the assistance of the
press； rescue it in some degree from destruction。 It will not be
amiss to state here； that it is only by listening attentively to
the speech of the Gitanos； whilst discoursing amongst themselves；
that an acquaintance with their dialect can be formed； and by
seizing upon all unknown words as they fall in succession from
their lips。 Nothing can be more useless and hopeless than the
attempt to obtain possession of their vocabulary by inquiring of
them how particular objects and ideas are styled； for with the
exception of the names of the most common things； they are totally
incapable； as a Spanish writer has observed； of yielding the
required information； owing to their great ignorance； the shortness
of their memories； or rather the state of bewilderment