The dialect of the English gypsies (Second Edition) (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9789390382293)

A rare window into the speech and lives of England's travelling communities. Language lives in every line. C. Smart's The dialect of the English gypsies (Second Edition) is a rigorous romani language study and a compact linguistic history book, assembling vocabulary and dialectal observation from the nineteenth century into a clear, methodical account. Smart's prose is unadorned but observant; the work balances the exactitude expected of a historical linguistics text with an immediacy that keeps terms and usages intelligible to non-specialists. As an english dialects reference it offers not only lists of forms but an accessible romani-english vocabulary that invites further enquiry into how speech and society met. The tone is observational rather than sensational, privileging precise terms over anecdote. A measured, humane record anchored in careful observation. Historically significant and quietly influential, the volume sits within nineteenth-century linguistics and early comparative work that shaped modern comparative dialectology. Its intersections with folklore and language make it a useful companion for researchers of gypsy culture research and for students of victorian england studies seeking cultural as well as linguistic context. Presented as an academic language collection, it doubles as a language scholars resource: a succinct snapshot of contact, borrowing and survival in speech that continues to inform contemporary studies. It remains frequently cited in modern surveys of language contact and dialect change. Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. Clear enough for the casual reader while substantial enough for specialist enquiry, it sits equally well on introductory reading lists and on the shelves of classic-literature collectors who prize provenance and quietly important scholarship. Collectors value the balance of readable prose and archival detail.

Author: B. C. Smart
ISBN-10: 9390382297
ISBN-13: 9789390382293
Publisher: Alpha Edition
Language: English
Published: 09/07/2020
Pages: 332
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.88d