Oral sources contacted stressed how difficult it is to make generalizations on the use of the Romani language by Bulgarian Roma given the heterogeneity of the Romani minority in Bulgaria.

During telephone interviews respectively conducted on 27 and 28 March 2000, the Chair of the Minority Studies Society Studii Romani estimated that two-thirds of Bulgarian Roma speak Romani, while the Chair of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee put the proportion at 50 per cent. Both identified two main characteristics of Romani speakers: Whether Romani is their second language or mother tongue; and the actual dialect of Romani spoken. According to the Chair of the Minority Studies Society Studii Romani, Romani-speaking Roma may speak Turkish, Romanian or Bulgarian as well (27 Mar. 2000). The Chair of the Bulgarian Committee said that Roma living in the south-eastern region of Kurdzhali and the south-western region of Pazardzhik are likely to speak Turkish (28 Mar. 2000). He further stated that young Romani adults are likely to speak Romani in Sofia, while they are likely to speak Romani or Turkish in Plovdiv (28 Mar. 2000).

With respect to the dialects, both sources indicated that Romani or 'Romanes' language has many dialects in Bulgaria, the three main ones being "Erlia" or "Yerlii", "Kardarashi" and "Vlachoria". Each dialect refers to the name of a Romani group. According to the Chair of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, the main Romani dialect spoken in Sofia and Plovdiv is Erlia (28 Mar. 2000).

For background information on the ethnosocial structure of the Roma of Bulgaria, please consult the attached document.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Sofia. 28 March 2000. Telephone interview with the Chair.

Minority Studies Society Studii Romani. Sofia. 27 March 2000. Telephone interview with the Chair.

Marushiakova, Elena and Vesselin Popov. 1995. Ethnosocial Structure of the Roma of Bulgaria http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/bulg-structre.htm [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

Amnesty International Report 1999 1999

Country Report 1999.

Human Rights Watch World Report 2000

IRB Databases

Lexis/Nexis

Marushiakova, Elena and Vesselin Popov. 1995. Ethnocultural Characteristics of the Roma of Bulgaria http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/bulg-chara.htm [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

Project on Ethnic Relations. 24-25 April 1998. The Roma in Bulgaria: Collaborative Efforts Between Local Authorities and Nongovernmental Organizations http://www.websp.com/~ethnic/new/roma_bul.htm [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

Public Affairs International Service 1999-2000

Refworld

Resource Centre country file on Bulgaria. 1999-2000

Soravia, Giulio. n.a. A Wandering Voice: The Language of the Gypsies. http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/bulg-chara.htm [Accessed 16 Mar. 2000]

World News Connection (WNC)

Unsuccessful attempts to contact two oral sources.

One oral source did not have any information on this subject.

Internet Sites Including:

Ethnologue

European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)

European Roma Rights Centre

Keesing's

Minority Electronic Resources (MINELRES)

Minority Rights Group International

Minorities at Risk

OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues

Patrin

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Romnews

RomaRights

Transitions