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In the late 1960s, he became a Romani rights activist after reading reports about anti-Romani discrimination in Britain. In particular, he took up the cause of Romani rights after British police caused a fire that killed two Romani children. In 1971, he graduated as the first Romani in Britain with a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]]<ref name="UT"/>, though he did not have a [[high school diploma]] or any other college degrees. |
In the late 1960s, he became a Romani rights activist after reading reports about anti-Romani discrimination in Britain. In particular, he took up the cause of Romani rights after British police caused a fire that killed two Romani children. In 1971, he graduated as the first Romani in Britain with a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]]<ref name="UT"/>, though he did not have a [[high school diploma]] or any other college degrees. |
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==Creole studies== |
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Aside from his seminal research on the [[Anglo-Romani language]], Hancock is an internationally recognized scholar on [[creole languages]]. In addition to his research on Krio, Hancock has done important research the [[Gullah language]] of coastal [[South Carolina]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and the [[Afro-Seminole Creole]] language spoken in Southwest Texas. Hancock was the first scholar to recognize that a version of Gullah, he calls Afro-Seminole, is spoken by a community of [[Black Seminole]] descendants in [[Brackettville, Texas]]. Hancock later did research on another variety of Afro-Seminole spoken in a village called Nacimiento in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Coahuila]]. |
Aside from his seminal research on the [[Anglo-Romani language]], Hancock is an internationally recognized scholar on [[creole languages]]. In addition to his research on Krio, Hancock has done important research the [[Gullah language]] of coastal [[South Carolina]] and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and the [[Afro-Seminole Creole]] language spoken in Southwest Texas. Hancock was the first scholar to recognize that a version of Gullah, he calls Afro-Seminole, is spoken by a community of [[Black Seminole]] descendants in [[Brackettville, Texas]]. Hancock later did research on another variety of Afro-Seminole spoken in a village called Nacimiento in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Coahuila]]. |
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==Romani studies== |
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He has written more than 300 books, articles, and papers concerning the Romani people and [[Romani language|language]] (particularly the [[Vlax Romani language|Vlax dialect]]). These works analyze the Romani people not only through Romani linguistics but also through history, anthropology, and genetics. He has also been interviewed several times by news agencies covering reports having to do with Romanies, in addition to appearing in the documentary ''American Gypsy'' and generally answering questions about Romanies. He is currently in the process of writing a book called ''On Romani Origins and Identity''.<ref>Ian Hancock. ''On Romani Origins and Identity.'' To appear.</ref> |
He has written more than 300 books, articles, and papers concerning the Romani people and [[Romani language|language]] (particularly the [[Vlax Romani language|Vlax dialect]]). These works analyze the Romani people not only through Romani linguistics but also through history, anthropology, and genetics. He has also been interviewed several times by news agencies covering reports having to do with Romanies, in addition to appearing in the documentary ''American Gypsy'' and generally answering questions about Romanies. He is currently in the process of writing a book called ''On Romani Origins and Identity''.<ref>Ian Hancock. ''On Romani Origins and Identity.'' To appear.</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:21, 14 June 2007
Ian Hancock (Romani: Yanko le Redžosko) is a renowned linguist, Romani scholar, and human rights advocate. He was born and raised in England.
He is director of the Program of Romani Studies and the Romani Archives and Documentation Center at The University of Texas at Austin, where he has been a professor of English, linguistics and Asian studies since 1972. He has represented the Romani people at the United Nations and served as a member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council under President Clinton, who is himself part Romani. He also represented the Romani people at the 1997 Rafto Prize award ceremony.
Early life
Dr. Hancock was born in England. His mother, Kitty, is Romnichal. However, his father Reginald (Redžo) is part Romungro: in particular, he is the descendant of a Hungarian speaker of North Central Romani named Benczi Imre. He inherited the surname "Hancock" through Imre's daughter Maria, who married a member of a British West Country showman family of that surname.
He lived in Canada for less than six years before moving back to England in 1961. There, he dropped out of 9th grade. This was not uncommon among Romanies; in fact, few or none of his other family members were literate.
He then took up several kinds of jobs[1], including that of a spray painter. It was at this time that his roommates, university students from Sierra Leone, allowed him to learn the Krio language of that country. His knowledge of Krio and some academic connections helped him to enter the University of London. He was one of only two candidates in an affirmative action program who qualified to receive higher education.
In the late 1960s, he became a Romani rights activist after reading reports about anti-Romani discrimination in Britain. In particular, he took up the cause of Romani rights after British police caused a fire that killed two Romani children. In 1971, he graduated as the first Romani in Britain with a Ph.D.[1], though he did not have a high school diploma or any other college degrees.
Creole studies
Aside from his seminal research on the Anglo-Romani language, Hancock is an internationally recognized scholar on creole languages. In addition to his research on Krio, Hancock has done important research the Gullah language of coastal South Carolina and Georgia, and the Afro-Seminole Creole language spoken in Southwest Texas. Hancock was the first scholar to recognize that a version of Gullah, he calls Afro-Seminole, is spoken by a community of Black Seminole descendants in Brackettville, Texas. Hancock later did research on another variety of Afro-Seminole spoken in a village called Nacimiento in the Mexican state of Coahuila.
Romani studies
He has written more than 300 books, articles, and papers concerning the Romani people and language (particularly the Vlax dialect). These works analyze the Romani people not only through Romani linguistics but also through history, anthropology, and genetics. He has also been interviewed several times by news agencies covering reports having to do with Romanies, in addition to appearing in the documentary American Gypsy and generally answering questions about Romanies. He is currently in the process of writing a book called On Romani Origins and Identity.[2]
Sources
- Ian Hancock: We Are the Romani People (Ame Sam E Rromane Džene), Hertfordshire, Great Britain. University of Hertfordshire Press 2002.
References
- ^ a b "UT report on Dr. Hancock". What's in a Name?:Professor takes on roles of Romani activist and spokesperson to improve plight of his ethnic group. University of Texas at Austin.
- ^ Ian Hancock. On Romani Origins and Identity. To appear.