The English Gipsies and Their Language — Background and Themes

A Fieldworker's Vow of Originality

Leland explicitly distances himself from previous authorities. He writes that he 'carefully avoided repeating' George Borrow 'in the least detail' and took nothing from Simson, Hoyland, or other writers on English Romanies. This is not mere modesty: it is a methodological claim. The book, he asserts, 'can at least claim to be an original collection of material fresh from nature, and not a reproduction from books.' The only exceptions are two German Gipsy letters included for illustration.

This stance shapes how a reader should approach the text. Leland presents himself as a direct conduit to living informants, not a synthesizer of printed sources. The preface repeatedly emphasizes the goodwill of the Gipsies he met, countering the common assertion of their 'incredible distrust of Gorgios.' He notes their 'natural politeness' when treated properly, and insists he never faced rapacity or greed.

The Linguistic Argument for Indian Origins

In the later excerpt, Leland builds a case for the Indian origin of Romani using comparative vocabulary. He points to the English Gipsy word dukkeni for 'doubtful,' tracing it to Hindustani dhokna or dukna. This is one example of a broader claim: that English Romani contains 'a far greater number of almost unchanged Hindu words' than any other published dialect. He calls this fact to the attention of those interested in the language.

Leland goes further, hypothesizing that the Gipsies descend from 'primitive tribes of Hindustan'—specifically the Doms and Nāts—who emigrated in the early fourteenth century. He cites physical resemblance as 'one irrefutable proof,' noting that even in Egypt, the native Gipsy appears Hindu, not Egyptian. The argument relies on linguistic evidence, tradition, and physical type, though the excerpts do not provide the full dictionary promised.

Contrasts Between English and Continental Gipsies

A striking passage compares English Romanies with a group of German Gipsies who appeared at an English racecourse. Leland's informant described the visitors as 'the dirtiest Gipsies I ever saw,' unable to do anything but beg, and displaying their breasts while nursing in a way the English Roms found shocking. The anecdote serves Leland's linguistic point: Continental Gipsies, less integrated with Gorgio society, have a smaller vocabulary because they are 'unfamiliar with many things for which the English Gipsy has at least a name.'

This hierarchy—English Romanies as more intelligent and refined—reflects Leland's own biases and his informants' perspectives. It also illustrates his method of using social observation to support linguistic claims. The reader should note that Leland's evidence comes from a single informant's report, not systematic survey.

How the Preface Shapes the Reader's Expectations

The preface establishes a personal, almost intimate tone. Leland thanks 'every true Gipsy I have ever met' and speaks of their cheerfulness in helping him. He presents himself as a sympathetic outsider who gained trust gradually, without 'parade of patronage.' This framing invites the reader to trust his accounts as authentic and unmediated.

Yet the excerpts also reveal limits. Leland acknowledges that his dictionary is forthcoming, and that the present work is only part of a larger project. The reader should expect a mix of linguistic analysis, anecdote, and cultural commentary, all filtered through Leland's own perspective. The book is not a neutral record but a personal narrative of discovery, shaped by the author's relationships with his informants and his desire to correct earlier writers.

Reading this book requires attention to Leland's dual role as collector and interpreter. He presents raw material—words, phrases, stories—but also weaves them into an argument about Gipsy origins and character. The excerpts suggest that the most valuable parts may be the direct transcriptions of Romani speech, which Leland claims are original. Readers interested in the language itself should focus on those passages, while remaining aware that Leland's framing reflects Victorian assumptions about race, progress, and authenticity.

There’s something tender about old books that chase voices before they fade. Leland’s pages made me feel that ache—listening hard to people, writing down their words so they aren’t lost. That same quiet reverence came through reading the Lecture on the Aborigines of Newfoundland Delivered Before the Mechanics' Institute, at St. John's, Newfoundland, on Monday, 17th January, 1859 — Background and Themes. A kind of longing for what wasn’t written down in time.