Members of the Epeka Association will attend a training entitled “Romani Language: History, Dialects, Practice”. The event is designed as a valuable opportunity to understand the roots, evolution and modern vibrancy of the Romani language, which is carried out within the framework  of the ERIACNET4EU project funded by the European Commission.

The Romani language is not only a means of communication, but also a carrier of a rich cultural heritage, history of migration and identity. This workshop will offer participants a comprehensive insight into the complexity of language that has been shaped over the centuries under the influence of different cultures.

The workshop will combine theoretical knowledge with practical examples in order to bring the participants closer to the Romani language as a living and developing entity. The program includes:

  • Theoretical Framework: An exploration of the Indo-Aryan origins of the language, its route from India, and historical contacts with the Persian, Armenian, Greek, and Balkan languages, which led to today’s diversity of dialectal groups across Europe.
  • Multimedia Insight: Presentation of language through authentic audio and video materials. Participants will watch animated films dubbed in different dialects and listen to fairy tales with “Radio Romano”, which will show how the language is used in modern everyday life.
  • Practical workshop (Master class): The final part of the meeting will be dedicated to practical work, where participants will learn basic vocabulary, greetings, simple sentence constructions and rules for reading and pronunciation.

The trainer is Janush Panchenko, a renowned expert on Roma history, culture and language and a research associate at the Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. As a native speaker of the dialect, Vlaxicko combines academic excellence with fieldwork in the field of language preservation. He is the author of numerous educational materials, translator and founder  of the Romano Than organization, and he will share his rich experience with the workshop participants.