Talk:Sinti

Is there any reason this isn't just a redirect to Roma and Sinti, with this material integrated there? Pending such a decision, I'm adding a link. -- Jmabel 06:37, 7 Jan 2004 (UTC)

This article implies that the Sinti are a separate group from the Roma, rather than a sub-group within the Roma. This is not a claim I have seen made anywhere except Wikipedia. While we may choose to use a more politically correct term for the people traditionally known in English as Gypsies, it is awkward not to use a single word. PatGallacher 12:41, 2005 July 16 (UTC)

I have already corrected the text, as we Sinti are simply German Roma, not a separate group, in the same way as Gitanos are Spanish Roma, Romanichels are British Roma, Lovari are Hungarian Roma, Kalderash are Russian/Polish Roma, etc.Yoschka (17 July 2005)

Kalderash are not Russian or Polish Roma. That's one of Romani ethnic groups, they live everywhere but their origin is from Romania. RomanyChaj-रोमानीछाय (talk) —Preceding undated comment was added at 13:03, 21 July 2008 (UTC)

Someone needs to sort this page out. I don't know about Gitanos, but Zigeuner is not a word for German Gypsies; it's the German word for Gypsy, any Gypsy living in any part of the world.--Chris 02:32, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Sinti -name

What is origin of name Sinti? Chirags 00:18, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

Until recently, the article claimed:

The name Sinti is cognate with the words Sindhu, India, and Hindu.

The Sinti Gypsys migrated from Sind, or from the banks of the Sindhu River in modern day Pakistan to the court of Persia where tribe-members sought work as musicians. From Persia, they migrated throughout Europe and North Africa. They are thought to be members of low caste tribes who were conscripted during early days of Muslim invasion by local Hindu rulers to increase bulk of their armies.

However, none of this material was cited, so I have no idea what it's worth. I don't know any of this from my own reading, so while I noticed the deletion, I did not revert it. If anyone has citation for this, it should be restored, properly cited. -- Jmabel | Talk 22:40, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

I disagree wholeheartedly with the statement made at the beginning of the article about how the Sinti are 'German Roma' and the Cale of Spain are 'Spanish Roma' and etc. This is simply not true. The Roma are one of our many (Romani) nations; calling all of us Roma is the same as calling all Native Americans 'Apache'. We are distinct groups (nations) with distinct differences. Certain academics have been pushing to have all of us referred to as Roma (as opposed to Romani, which is the correct term) but that is foolish. We are not all Roma. Most of us, in fact, aren't. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 209.247.222.45 (talk • contribs) 8 Jan 2006.

You can disagree but this doesn't mean that you know what you're saying. Otherwise, do explain why Sinti call their own language Romanes, and it's actually a Romany dialect. Sinti call another Sinti "Rom", that means "man", and that's how all Roma groups (unproperly called Gypsies) have as ethnic definition. About the Spanish Calé, they also call themselves "Rom", and their language "Romanó" (of which "Caló" is considered a mixed jargon Spanish/Romany). Your comparison with the Apaches is utterly inappropriate, as the American Natives indeed belong to different groups (Algonquian, Athapaskan, Muskegon, Sioux, etc) and have different languages and cultures, but all Roma (including sub-groups like Sinti and Calé) have the same origins and traditions. It was the geographic distribution that, with time, made the differences. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 81.37.253.152 (talk • contribs) .

It should also be noted that Sinti / Sinte is similar to "Sinhela" which is the name of the Singalese in Sri Lanka. Interestingly the Singalese show genetic similarities to the Romani people (Y Haplotype H) and both have connection to the word Ram / Raman. The Singalese show all signs of originally coming from North India yet now live in Sri Lanka - Lanka was the island mentioned in the story of Ram. It is strongly believed and is coming to light that the word Romani comes from the Rajasthani way of saying Ram = Rom. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.96.254.123 (talk) 19:27, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Sinti are NOT Roma

I'm a Sinto, and we do not identify with the Roma. Enough of self-proclaimed "experts"! It eats me up. We are NOT Roma. We do NOT call our selves Roma. We don't even like them. The Roma are primarily eastern European Romanies. The word "Rom" means "husband" or "man" to Western European Romanies, but is NOT a term we use to refer to our selves as a people. In Germany, for example, the Sinti insist on being called Sinti and NOT Roma. The Sinti are not a group within the Roma. We are a group within the Romani people. The Sinti are not Roma, the Roma are not Sinti. But both are Romanies (the people called "Gypsies" in English). We are all Romani, but all of us are NOT Roma. But what we say, doesn't matter much when a couple of politically correct "Sinti" experts want to become popular by saying we are Roma. I don't understand. This is very offensive to us. If you don't take my word for it, check out Ian Hancock's website online. He is one of the greatest scholars and experts about the Romani "Gypsies", and check out his book, "We are the Romani people", which explains this matter: We are Romani, NOT Roma. Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sintooo (talk • contribs) 13:06, 18 June 2008 (UTC)

I don't know much about this subject but I read in the Spanish wikipedia that the mercheros are considered to be sinti, while the gitanos are considered rom. elroble@planet-save.com —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.48.125.134 (talk • contribs) .

No, the "mercheros" are like the "quinquis", not Romany group and nobody call them Sinti (it's an unknown term in Spain). Spanish Roma (Gitanos) usually call the Sinti "Manush", the French term. The mercheros are not an ethnic group, but just outcast Spaniards. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.50.144.179 (talk • contribs) .

Can any of you all cite any sources for this besides personal anecdotes? It's all fascinating, but we need something verifiable so that the assertions we make aren't in Wikipedia's definition of prohibited "original research". Tomer^talk 19:16, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

So how would you word this? "Romany people in Germany"? Since most outsider's words (Gypsies, Zigeuner, etc.) are now generally considered inappropriate, I'm at a loss for how to word this. -- Jmabel | Talk 03:47, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

Romani apparently.  :-) Tomer^talk 00:02, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

famous Gypsies

Any mileage in this? Elvis Presley's ancestors were Sinti http://www.imninalu.net/famousGypsies.htm —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ophelia105 (talk • contribs) .

Gifts From Sind

When Mohammad bin Qasim AthThaqafi, the commander of Islamic forces in 7th century CE, opened the Sind for the Islamic Caliphate after rescuing the Sarandeep (Srilanka now) Muslim pilgrims from Raja Daher of Daibel (near Karachi port now), he sent to Governor of Iraq & his relative, AlHajjaj bin Yusuf AthThaqfi, novelty gifts from Sind. They included: the books of the astronomical observatory there [which contained the mathematics of astronomy of that era & which had the Indian numerals 1 to 9 but {without zero} & which after translating to Arabic, the Muslim scientists added zero & adopted to 'Arabic' numerals {not to be confused with the Arabic numerals called in the West} in Arabic language & developed the decimal system & arithmetic & mathematics & then in the Arabic Maghreb the 'Ghabara ' numerals known in the West as the Arabic numerals, which they were transferred to Europe through the traders of Venice as needed to keep their books of accounting, as they could not add in the Roman numerals used at that time there & introduced in the West officially by the publishing of the book by European Mathematician Fibonacci in 1206AD], elephants & gypsies ("زط" or "Zoot" in Arabic) (as a troupe who would entertain). But after sometime the gypsies multiplied & caused problem of law & order in Kufa, the provincial capital of Iraq, so the governor sent them away to the border northwards with the Islamic forces, to free the city of them. So they moved northwards with the Islamic forces until they reached Europe with the expansion of the Islamic state. Source: The Book: "بطل السند" ( or 'The Hero of Sind') ILAKNA (talk) 17:51, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Indo European?

Sinti people look very indo European while Rom are more Semite looking. for me they are 2 groups that's only common bond is India. that is like the Persians & Arabs(semites) who hate each other yet are brothers. Sinti would be more like ethnic white people. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.153.29.52 (talk • contribs) 8 Feb 2006 (UTC)

Regardless of how they may look to you, anthropologists consider them Indo-European. Their language is certainly Indo-European. - Jmabel | Talk 01:26, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

Roma people have their own distinct look, I don't think they 'look like' Semites, I can see alot of Indic features though. maybe you should actually learn about the Romani language. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.202.22.224 (talk • contribs) 10 September 2006.

I found that bhang (marijuana) is also known as Siddhi in India,usd in celebrating Kali. [[1]] [[2]] —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 198.187.154.33 (talk • contribs) 7 November 2006.

And did you find any linguist who thinks this is relevant? - Jmabel | Talk 00:59, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

WikiProject class rating

This article was automatically assessed because at least one WikiProject had rated the article as start, and the rating on other projects was brought up to start class. BetacommandBot 16:30, 9 November 2007 (UTC)

Correct the Sinte are not Roma, they are Romani.

The word "Roma" is creating enough confusion and problems. The word itself is a Romani word with Romani grammar and translates into English as Roms. It is also just one branch of the Romani people who use the word Roma to discribe themselves. Most Romani people do not call themselves "Roma" but most do refer to themselves as Romani.

Infact the word Tsigan is used more commonly than Roma amongst tribes - Romani people only use the word "Gypsy" to discribe themselves when telling non-Romani people who they are for convenience as non-Romani people recognise the word "Gypsy". No Romani people actually recognise the word "Gypsy" when referring to themselves and some see it as very offensive.

The English Romanichal call themselves Romani hence the English recognition of the word. They have never called themselves as Roma and when referring to Roma coming into England from Eastern Europe they say 'Roms'.

To put away all theories and opinions as to whether the Sinte are Romani then the Y haplotype H which is most common in Romani males is the final answer. Haplotype H is only common in certain groups in India (and Singalese of Sri Lanka) and not common amongst all groups in India. Haplotype H is rare in Pakistan (the country Sind is now in) other than a Dardic people called Kalasha in the far north. Example of haplotypes in India are most people of NW India and also many high castes are R1a which is also common in central Asia, Russia and Scandinavia. Dravidian India including Tamils of Sri Lanka are very high in Haplotype L.

It is very unlikely that two different branches coming out of India from two complete migrations would have the same high percentage of Haplotype H.