Alternative Names
The Roma name is one that has become common currency today, replacing the designation Gypsy which has negative connotations. Since many Roma use the term Gypsy with outsiders, and there are contexts in which Gypsy is the broader term, its use is still applicable in certain contexts and certainly appears in the literature as well as Internet search engines. In Europe and the British Isles, terms such as Romanies, Travelers or Tinkers are also used. Many different groups form the Roma population based on a common sense of belonging although they may have very different characteristics and use different names.
Location and Linguistic Affiliation
Roma can be found in significant numbers in the United States, Europe, Russia, Middle East, North Africa, India, Pakistan, and Central Asia. Some have migrated to Australia, Hawaii, and Alaska, but as far as we know they have not reached Japan, China, or Southeast Asia. The Roma are generally believed to have originated in...
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Sutherland, A.H. (2004). Roma of the United States and Europe. In: Ember, C.R., Ember, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medical Anthropology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-29905-X_93
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-29905-X_93
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