National Law University, Delhi

Sector-14, Dwarka, New Delhi (India)

Invitation and Programme Details

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RROMANI LANGUAGE, LINGUISTIC RIGHTS, AND LINGUISTIC JUSTICE (ICRLLRLJ)

Organized by

The Centre for Linguistic Justice and Endangered Languages

National Law University Delhi

In collaboration with

The Rromani Division (South-India and Himalaya Dpt.) of the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Culture, Paris. (INALCO).

5 December 2018

The Rromani language has been a crucial element in the historical confirmation of the Rroms' Indian roots and it still plays a pivotal part in the Rroms' references to their primary cradle – to such extent that it was called an "umbilical link to Bharat".

The some 20 million of Rroms scattered worldwide do not have a territory of their own and in this respect their mother tongue and culture become a kind of intangible motherland, based therefore on human-only heritage and wealth – what is a factor of peace and harmony worldwide. As late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi underlined in her speech to Rromani representatives in 1983, they "retain memories of elements of Indian civilization" and "qualities associated with India, which they regard as their original home".

Despite the positive dimension of the Rroms' unphysical riches in terms of culture, transmission and contribution to the various countries they lived and live in, their language has quite often been, and remains, treated with clear injustice. A review of discussions devoted to this topic reveals that it has seldom be approached in an academic way. Most comments are declarative and ideologically inspired, not to say superficial, formalist, and with little if any rooting in real practice and mechanisms of justice, law, legality and legitimacy. The lack of serious research is obvious and all the more regrettable that such research could be very much welcome as an instrument to improve this factual situation and also a model for other languages in a similar position.

Centre for Linguistic Justice and Endangered Languages of the National Law University Delhi in collaboration with the Rromani Division (South-India and Himalaya Dpt.) of the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Culture, Paris. (INALCO).

This conference also aims at initiating a research cooperation between the two collaborating institutions, in this field, operating in a spirit of objectivity and realism, while taking on board extra-linguistic and extra-Rromani factors – mainly the legal framework of linguistic justice versus injustice.

One of the aims would be to outline the present day legal and effective situation of Rromani in Europe, the developments we may observe and a frame for suggestions aiming at a better treatment of this language, which is approximately the 15^th language in number of speakers in Europe, on a foot of equality with Danish and Catalan (more than Arabic and Turkish immigrants). Despite this importance it has not been taken under consideration by authorities during centuries, and our aim should be to place on the research priority of the Linguists in Europe and elsewhere. It is also to be kept in mind, that a pivotal element in a language's social blossoming is it recognition, which implies integration, modernization and promotion, and this can be a fruitful field of research full of possibilities.

Several renowned Rromani researchers from Europe, and Linguists and other interested researchers are expected to participate this conference. An exhibition of Rroms' portraits from all over Europe and South America, is also proposed, in order to challenge the clichés usually attached to this Indian diaspora, the historically oldest one – commemorating this winter the Millennium of their exodus from India.

Sub-themes of the Conference-The sub-themes of the conference can include, but are not limited by the following:

a. Language as human heritage

b. Language as the constitution of an intangible motherland

c. Language Contact and Hybridity

d. Language Convergence

e. Language Documentation

f. Language Endangerment

g. Language Policy and Implementation

h. Language Politics

i. Language preservation

j. Language Vitalization

k. Present legal situation of Rromani in Europe

l. Promoting Rroma language research

m. Recognition, integration, modernization and promotion, of Rroma Language

n. Rroma and other languages in a similar position

o. Rroma Language and memories of the ‘original home’

p. Rromani language the ‘umbilical link to Bharat’

q. The legal framework of linguistic justice versus injustice.

r. The paradox of cultural richness and linguistic injustice

s. Other related areas pertaining to the above themes in Anthropology, Sociology, Culture Studies, Indology, Rrom studies, etc.

Specifications for the Abstract-All the abstracts received are subject to review and only those papers whose abstracts get approved by the reviewers will be selected for presentation. Kindly register and provide the abstracts in 200 to 400 words, electronically on https://goo.gl/forms/oR8XT73rM43DEG8G3 . Click here.

Important:

§ Venue: National Law University, Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078.

§ Time: Reporting and Registration at 9:00 am

Date: Wednesday, 5 December 2018

Registration: There is no registration fee charged and lunch and snacks shall be provided on the days of the conference. To register follow this link https://goo.gl/forms/oR8XT73rM43DEG8G3 . Click here.

Accommodation: This conference is for one day and there is no provision for accommodation for the delegates and they are requested to make their own arrangement in case there is a need to do so. However, we can, in some cases, extend help in booking it on your behalf, at a suitably located place, against advance payment.

Travel Allowance: The participants have to arrange for their own travel.

Organizing Committee:

Patron: Prof. (Dr.) Ranbir Singh

Vice-Chancellor,

National Law University, Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078.

Host: Prof. (Dr.) G.S. Bajpai

Registrar,

National Law University, Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078.

Conference Co-Chairs:

Prof. Prasannanshu,

Director, The Centre for Linguistic Justice and Endangered Languages

Prof. Marcel Courthiade,

Head, Rromani Division (South-India and Himalaya Dpt.) of the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Culture, Paris. (INALCO).

Contact Details:

Please Join the WhatsApp Group ICRLLRLJ-NLUD, 5Dec2018 by following this link, for constant updates etc. https://chat.whatsapp.com/JSCIhjt7LjfEzWkUuPzY1N :

Email : iel@nludelhi.ac.in

Cell : 0091-9315779674 (During Office Hours)