Gypsy “flavor” within a social structure

Abstract

In Turkey Romani people have preserved their basic cultural values throughout ages, in fact ever since the Byzantium times. Their origins can be traced back to India, from where they somehow dispersed practically everywhere around the globe. Certain tribes kept living as nomadic people until fairly recent times; while others got settled collectively in districts of certain provinces and counties. In Istanbul sedentarized Romanies essentially pertain to some old neighborhoods near the ancient citywall. The bigger society used to attribute some undeserved negative traits to those jovial, carefree communities; while some of their true virtues (like music-talent or skilled handicrafts) could never be contested, enjoying universal appreciation. In this particular study; Romany people are handled from a sociologicay viewpoint in as much detail as possible or appropriate for the scope of an academic article. The major sources hereby consulted comprise an expert work in French by the prominant social scientist François de Vaux de Foletier, as well as a few volumes of the masterpiece of a social-historian, late Reşat Ekrem Koçu, namely İstanbul Ansiklopedisi (The Encyclopedia of İstanbul). (The publishment of the precious serial came to an end with the untimely-death of the chief-editor). Auxuliary complementary literature is also included. The author of this article did insert a sequence of his own life experiences/Erlebnis, as well. The outdated-and-despised word “Gypsy” is mostly omitted in the text, except solely in obligatory quotations. Instead, it is replaced by euphumistic words, above all “Romany”.