Comparative view of the Gypsey, Hindostanie, and Turkish languages.
* * * * *
The following collection is extracted from Grellmann's Vocabulary.
_Gypsey_. _Hindostanie_. _English_.
Ick, Ek Ek One
Duj, Doj Du Two
Trin, Tri Tin Three
Schtar, Star Tschar Four
Pantsch, Pansch Pansch Five
Tschowe, Schow Tscho Six
Efta Hefta, Sat Seven
Ochto Aute Eight
Desch, Des Des, Des Ten
Bisch, Bis Bjs Twenty
Diwes Diw Day
Ratti Rateh Night
Cham, Cam Kam The Sun
Schan Tschand The Moon
Panj Panj Water
Sonnikey Suna Gold
Rup Ruppa Silver
Jiv Giuw Wheat
Bal Bal The Hair
Aok Awk The Eye
Kan Kawn The Ear
Nak Nakk The Nose
Mui Mu The Mouth
Dant Dant A Tooth
Tschib Jibb The Tongue
Sunjo Sunnj The Hearing
Sunj Sunkh The Smell
Sik Tschik The Taste
Tschater Tschater A Tent
Rajah Raja The Prince
Puro Purana Old
Baro Burra Great
Kalo Kala Black
Grea Gorrra Horse
Jukel Dog
Maru Bread
Kil Butter
Ker Gurr House
It has already been observed, that in the Gypsey, as well as in the
Hindostanie language, the article is not placed before the noun, but
affixed behind it; and that is the sole indication of the case of a noun.
Grellmann has given examples of the declension of nouns, pronouns, and
adjectives, as well as the conjugation of verbs in both languages; but
the grammatical arrangement of them does not come within the design of
this work. The foregoing list of words is a selection of those that are
most similar: but in Grellmann's extensive vocabulary, he says, it will
appear on the average, that every third Gypsey word, is likewise
Hindostanie.
It must be observed, that the words above recited, have been learned from
the Gypsies within a few years, consequently at a time when they had been
nearly four complete centuries away from Hindostan, their native country;
and among people who spoke languages totally different; in which also the
Gypsies conversed.
Under the constant and so long continued influx of these languages, their
own must necessarily have suffered some alteration; more especially as
they are a people entirely ignorant, either of writing or literature.
It does not appear that there is so much Persian in the Gypsey language,
as has been generally imagined; and even what there is of it, they may
have brought with them from their native country, as many Persian words
are current in Hindostan. We ought rather to wonder the number of
Hindostanie words in the Gypsey language, is so considerable, than to
require it should be greater, to furnish sufficient proof of the
Hindostanie language being the Gypsies' mother tongue.
Since the laborious researches of Grellmann, extended intercourse with
India, has furnished unquestionable evidence in support of his
deductions. The first we shall introduce, is contained in the following
letter from William Marsden to Sir Joseph Banks, F.R.S. read to the
Society of Antiquaries in London, 1785.
"It has long been surmised, that the vagrant tribes of people called in
this country Gypsies, and on parts of the Continent of Europe, Cingari,
Zingari, and Chingali, were of eastern origin. The former name has been
supposed a corruption of Egyptian, and some learned men have judged it
not improbable that their language might be traced to the Coptic.
"In the course of researches which I have had occasion to pursue on the
subject of language, I have observed that Ludolfus, in his history of
Ethiopia, makes mention incidentally of the Cingari, vel _Errones
Nubiani_, and gives a specimen of words which he had collected from these
people on his travels, with a view of determining their origin. He
discusses the opinions of various writers concerning them; but forms no
precise sentiment of his own, concluding his observations with these
words: "Eadem vocabula, cum maximam partem reperiam apud Vulcanium a
centum fere annis traditam, non fictitia existimo, ut Megiferus putat nec
corrupta ex aliis linguis, neque Egyptiaca, sive Coptica."--In English,
thus: "Since I find according to Vulcanius, that most of these words have
been continued traditionally for a period of nearly 100 years, I do not
consider them fictitious, as Megiferus supposes, nor corrupted from other
languages, either the Egyptian or Coptic."
"I was surprised to find many of the words familiar to my eye; and I
pointed out to Sir Joseph Banks, in the latter end of the year 1783,
their evident correspondence with terms in the Hindostanie, or as it is
vulgarly termed in India, the Moors' language.
"This similitude appeared to me so extraordinary, that I was inclined to
suspect an error in the publication, which might have arisen from a
confusion of obscure vocabularies in the author's possession. The
circumstance, however, determined me to pay farther attention to the
subject, and to examine, in the first place, whether the language spoken
by the Gypsey tribes in England, and by those in the remoter parts of the
continent of Europe was one, and the same; and then to ascertain, whether
this actually bore the affinity which so forcibly struck me in Ludolfus,
to any of the languages on the Continent of India.
"Through the obliging assistance of Sir Joseph Banks, who has spared no
pains to promote this investigation, I procured an opportunity of
obtaining a list of words from our Gypsies, which I can depend upon as
genuine, and tolerably accurate in respect to the pronunciation, from
their being corroborated also by words taken down, separately, by Sir
Joseph, and by Dr. Blagden.
"Mr. Matra did me the favour to transmit for me, a list of words to
Turkey; and from his ingenious friend B. Pisani, I received a complete
and satisfactory translation of them, together with some information,
respecting the manners of the Chingiares, in the Turkish dominions,
which, however, does not come within the design of this paper, as I mean
to confine myself in the present communication, simply to the question of
similarity of language; which, if established, I should esteem a matter
of no little curiosity; presuming it to be perfectly new to the world.
"Of this similarity, the learned members of the Society will be enabled
to form their judgment from the annexed paper, exhibiting a comparison of
a few of the words procured from the different quarters before mentioned,
with the Hindostanie terms, from the best published, and parole
authorities. It may not be unworthy of remark, that the general
appellation of these people in the eastern part of Europe, is very nearly
connected with that of the inhabitants of Ceylon, in the East-Indies, who
are equally termed. Lingalese and Chingalese; though at the same time it
must be acknowledged, that the language of this Island has much less
correspondence with that of the Gypsies, than many others of the Indian
dialects.
"His Grace, the Archbishop of York, with his usual discernment, suggested
to me, the probability that the Zingara here spoken of, may have derived
their name, and perhaps their origin from the people called Langari, or
Langarians, who are found in the north-west parts of the Peninsula of
Hindostan, and infest the coasts of Guzerat and Sindy with their
piratical depredations.
"The maritime turn of this numerous race of people, with their roving and
enterprising disposition, may warrant the idea of occasional emigration
in their boats, by the coarse of the Red Sea.
"Notwithstanding the resemblance to the Hindostanie, is the predominant
feature in the Gypsey dialect, yet there are words interspersed, which
evidently coincide with other languages. Besides the Mahratta, and
Bengalese, which I have marked in the comparative specimen, it is not a
little singular that the terms for the numerals _seven_, _eight_, and
_nine_, are purely Greek: although the first five, and that for ten, are
indisputably Indian. It is also a curious observation, that although the
Indian term for seven is _saath_, yet that for a week, or seven days; is
the Eftan of the latter.
"One word only among those I have examined, bears a resemblance to the
Coptic, which is _rom_, the same with _romi_, a man.
"In comparisons of this nature, a due allowance must be made, not only
for the various modes of spelling adopted by different persons, and
different nations, but also for the dissimilar manner in which the same
individual sound, strikes the organs of the hearers; of which some
pointed instances may be given.
"Should any be inclined to doubt, which I scarcely suppose possible, the
identity of the Gypsey, or Cingari, and the Hindostanie languages, still
it will be acknowledged as no uninteresting subject, that tribes
wandering through the mountains of Nubia, or the plains of Romania, have
conversed for centuries in a dialect precisely similar to that spoken at
this day, by, the obscure, despised, and wretched people in England,
whose language has been considered as a fabricated gibberish, and
confounded with a cant in use among thieves and beggars; and whose
persons have been, till within the period of a year, an object of the
persecution, instead of the protection of our laws."
_William Marsden_.
In the 386th page of the 7th Vol. of Archaeologia, is the comparative
view of the English Gypsey, Turkish Gypsey, and Hindostanie dialects; a
specimen of which will be presented in this section.
In page 387 of the same volume, are collections on the Zingara, or Gypsey
language, by Jacob Bryant, Esq. transmitted to G. Salusbury Brereton,
Esq. in a letter from Doctor Douglas, read 1785: This learned traveller,
when in Hungary, had taken from the mouths of Gypsies, specimens of their
language, which occupy seven pages. It is remarkable, that of seventeen
words obtained and enumerated in the letters of Coxe, the learned
traveller, fourteen appear to resemble most exactly those of the same
signification, collected by Jacob Bryant
_John Douglas_.
COMPARISON OF THE GYPSEY, TURKISH, AND HINDOSTANIE LANGUAGES.
_English_. _English _Turkish _Cingari vel _Hindostanie_.
Gypsey_. Gypsey_. Errones
Nubiani_.
One Aick Yeck Aick, ek, Yek
Two Dooce Duy Du, Dow
Three Trin Trin Trin
Four Staur, Shtar Shtiar Chaur
Five Panji Panch Paunch
Six Shove Shove Chaye
Seven Heftan Efta Saath
Eight Okto Aoth Aut
Nine Henya Enia Noh Nu
Ten Desh Desh Dus, Doshe
(Bengalese)
Man Raye, gazo Ram Manush Manusch Manoosha,
(Bengalese)
Woman Raunee gougee Romee Rendee, Raunee
Head Bold-uroo shero Shero Schiero Seer, Sirr
Eyes Yackau, yock Yack Jaka Okhyo
(Bengalese)
Nose Bol-nak Nack Nak Nauck
Hair Ballau, bolow Bal Bal Baul, Bal
Teeth Danau Dan Daunt, Dant
(Bengalese)
Ear Kanaue Can Kaun
Day Dewas, Devas Deeves Deendeewas
(Mahratta)
Night Rautee Rateee Raut, roat
White Pauno Parnee Paandra
(Mahratta)
Sheep Baukro Bakro Bhare
Hog Baulo Balo Palo
Fish Matcho Muteho Matchee,
Mutchee
Bind Cheriko Chiriiklo Chereah
House Kair Ker Ghurr
Gold Soona-kai Sonna
Silver Roop Roopau
Brand, in his observations on Popular Antiquities, Vol. II. page 432,
observes: "The Gypsies, as it should seem from some striking proofs
derived from their language, were originally from Hindostan, where they
are supposed to have been of the lowest class of Indians, named Pariars,
or as they are called in Hindostan, Suders. They are thought to have
emigrated about A.D. 1408, or 1409, when Timur Beg ravaged India for the
purpose of spreading the Mahometan religion. On this occasion so many
were made slaves, and put to death, that a universal panic took place,
and a very great number of terrified inhabitants endeavoured to save
themselves by flight.
"As every part to the north and east was beset by the enemy, it is most
probable that the country below Multan, to the mouth of the Indus, was
the first asylum and rendezvous of the fugitive Suders. This is called
the country of Zinganen. Here they were safe, and remained so till
Timur's return from the victory of the Ganges. Then it was that they
entirely quitted the country, and probably with them a considerable
number of the natives, which will explain the meaning of their original
name."
In the seventh Vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 470, Captain David
Richardson says of the _Panchperee_, or Budee'a Nuts: "'Tis probable
there will be found in their manners, a stronger similitude to the
Gypsies of Europe, than in those of any other which may come under
review. They have no particular system of religion, adopting with
indifference that of the village near to which they happen to be
encamped. In the upper provinces of Hindostan, the little encampments of
these people are frequently very regular and neat, being there formed of
the Sirkee entirely. Each apartment, though not much larger than a
mastiff's kennel, has its own particular enclosure, or court-yard;
generally erected in such a manner, as to become a species of
circumvallation to the whole portable hamlet.
"One cannot help wondering where so many men, women, and children, and
other domestic animals manage to sleep; or shelter themselves from the
storms which sometimes assail these itinerant people. The men are
remarkably athletic and active, and also nimble and adroit, in every kind
of slight of hand. Many of the subdivisions of this class of men, pay
little, or no attention to cleanliness, or any restrictions in diet;
eating dead jackalls, bullocks, horses, or any kind of food procurable.
"The women do not attend the men during their juggling exploits, but have
a peculiar department allotted to themselves; which consists of the
practice of physic, cupping, palmistry, curing disorders of the teeth,
and marking the skin of the Hindoo women, an operation termed Godna.
They have two languages peculiar to themselves; one intended for the use
only of the craftsman, the other general among men, women, and children.
"The Hindostanie is the basis of both; the first is general, being a mere
transposition or change of syllables; and the second apparently, a
systematic conversion of a few letters; but which will be best elucidated
by the following specimen, which contains twenty-two words."
After which, he says: "I find these people in Colebrook's arrangement of
the Hindoo Classes, mentioned in the sixth class, under the head of
_Nata_, Bazeegurs; and in Sir William Jones's translation of the
Ordinances of Menu, _Munoo_, Chapter 10.
"I shall now subjoin a short parallel between the Gypsies of Europe, and
the people I have described. Both the _Gypsies_ and the _Nuts_ are
generally a wandering race of beings, seldom having a fixed habitation.
They have each a language peculiar to themselves. That of the Gypsies is
undoubtedly a species of Hindostanie; as well as that of the Nuts. In
Europe, it answers all the purposes of concealment.
"The Gypsies have their King, the Nuts their _Nardar Boutoh_; they are
equally formed into companies, and their peculiar employments are exactly
similar; dancing, singing, music, palmistry, &c. They are both
considered as thieves; at least that division of the Nuts, whose manners
come nearest the Gypsies.--In matters of religion they appear equally
indifferent, and as to food, we have seen that neither the Gypsies nor
the Budee'a Nuts are very choice.
"Though, in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Grellmann's Theory is thought
slightly of, the similarity of language being deemed but inconclusive
evidence; yet in this instance, and even in opposition to such authority,
I will venture to consider it, as forming a basis of the most substantial
kind. It is not the accidental coincidence of a few words, but the whole
vocabulary he produces, differs not so much from the common Hindostanie,
as provincial dialects of the same country do from each other.
"Grellmann, from a want of knowledge in the Hindostanie; as to its
provincial dialects, lost many opportunities of producing the proper word
in comparison with the Gypsey one.
"The following list of words was taken from the Annual Register of 1784,
or 1785, with a few I have now subjoined from Grellmann.--In some of the
instances where he has failed of producing the corresponding Hindostanie
word, the supply of them will, I hope, prove the language of the Gypsies,
and that of Hindostan to be the same, or very intimately connected with
each other.
_Gypsey_. _Hindostanie_. _English_.
Bebee Beebe Aunt, _a respectful feminine
termination from baba_,
_Father_.
Pawnee Paniee Brook, Drink, Water
Cauliban Kalaburn Black
Davies, Devus Dewus Day
Rattie Rat Dark night
Can Kan The Ear
Dad Dada Father
Mutchee Muchee Fish
Bootsee Buholsee Great
Gur Ghur House
Shing Seen Horn
Tuttoo Tutta Heat
Riah Raye Lord
Rriena Ra, enee Lady
Dai Da'ee Mother
Mass Mas Meat or food
Nack Nak Nose
Bouropanee Bura-panee Ocean, wave
Loon Loon Salt
Rook Rook, h A Tree
Tschar Char A Thief
Mul Mool Wine
Captain Richardson continues the list through four pages.