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The Romanichal (UK: / ˈ r ɒ m ə n ɪ tʃ æ l / US: /-n i-/; more commonly known as English Gypsies) are a Romani subgroup within the United Kingdom and other parts of the English-speaking world. Many Romanichal speak Angloromani , a mixed language that blends Romani vocabulary with English syntax.
Romani people have been recorded in the United Kingdom since at least the early 16th century. There are estimated to be around 225,000 Romani people residing in the UK. This includes the Romanichal, Kale (Welsh Romani), Scottish Lowland Romani and a sizeable population of Roma from Central and Eastern Europe, who immigrated into the UK in the late 1990s/early 2000s and after EU expansion in 2004.
Although the term "Roma" was endorsed in place of "Gypsies" at the first World Roma Congress in London, [9] many Romani people in Britain prefer to call themselves Gypsies, or names that include the term such as Romani Gypsies or Romany Gypsies. [10] [11] [5] [12] [8] [13] They also commonly refer to themselves as Romani or Romanies. [14]
His great-grandfather had been an important source of information on Romany traditions and language for Victorian academics including George Borrow. Gordon Boswell's father Sylvester published in 1970 a best-selling autobiography, "The Book of Boswell", [ 6 ] which portrayed the Romany life.
In the English language, Romani people have long been known by the exonym Gypsies or Gipsies, [88] which many Roma consider to be an ethnic slur. [ 89 ] [ 90 ] [ 91 ] The attendees of the first World Romani Congress in 1971 unanimously voted to reject the use of all exonyms for the Roma, including "Gypsy". [ 92 ]
The Boswells were for centuries one of England's largest and most important Gypsy families. The Boswell clan were a large extended family of Travellers, and in old Nottinghamshire dialect the word bos'll was used as a term for Travellers and Roma in general. Hence, many claiming the title King of the Gypsies come from the Boswell family.
George Henry Borrow (5 July 1803 – 26 July 1881) was an English writer of novels and of travel based on personal experiences in Europe. [1] His travels gave him a close affinity with the Romani people of Europe, who figure strongly in his work.
In 1929 the annual parties were revived, with 'real' Gypsies attending alongside local people dressed up in costume. [5] In the 1930s, he was regularly featured on BBC Radio's popular programme In Town Tonight, becoming known as "the famous broadcasting Gypsy". He also began writing articles on Gypsy lore and food for The Listener. [1]