Rotvælsk was a secret language (also known as a cant or cryptolect) that was spoken in Denmark from early modern times until the turn of the 20th century. Rotvælsk was also known under several other names. It is now extinct.[1] Rotvælsk was used by a social group known as Natmændsfolk who did simple craftsmanship, demeaning and unclean work or panhandled to survive. Both the social group and the language changed through the centuries, but remained associated with crime, loose morals, poverty and low social status in the eyes of the surrounding population.[2][3][4] The social group and their language have often been confused with Romani people and the Romani language, though they do not seem to have had a different ethnic origin than most Danes at that time.[2]
The language consisted of borrowed and/or distorted words that took the place of Danish words, while keeping the syntax of the speakers' Danish dialect.[5][2]
The language was probably used for secret communication in the presence of outsiders and to strengthen ingroup solidarity.[6]
rotvælsk, secret, language, also, known, cant, cryptolect, that, spoken, denmark, from, early, modern, times, until, turn, 20th, century, also, known, under, several, other, names, extinct, used, social, group, known, natmændsfolk, simple, craftsmanship, demea. Rotvaelsk was a secret language also known as a cant or cryptolect that was spoken in Denmark from early modern times until the turn of the 20th century Rotvaelsk was also known under several other names It is now extinct 1 Rotvaelsk was used by a social group known as Natmaendsfolk who did simple craftsmanship demeaning and unclean work or panhandled to survive Both the social group and the language changed through the centuries but remained associated with crime loose morals poverty and low social status in the eyes of the surrounding population 2 3 4 The social group and their language have often been confused with Romani people and the Romani language though they do not seem to have had a different ethnic origin than most Danes at that time 2 RotvaelskRegionDenmarkExtinctca 1900Language familyunclassifiedLanguage codesISO 639 3 The language consisted of borrowed and or distorted words that took the place of Danish words while keeping the syntax of the speakers Danish dialect 5 2 The language was probably used for secret communication in the presence of outsiders and to strengthen ingroup solidarity 6 See also editRotvaelsk should not be confused with German Rotwelsch Norwegian Rodi RotvaelskReferences edit Bakker P amp Nielsen F S 2011 Goddeis genter Mal amp maele 34 1 pp 13 18 a b c Hansen H P 1959 Natmaendsfolk og kjaeltringer 1 2 udg Kbh tr Skjern Rosenkilde og Bagger Krogh T 1994 Bodlens og natmandens uaerlighed Historisk tidsskrift 94 pp 30 57 Krogh T 2000 Det store natmandskomplot Kbh Samleren Bakker P amp Nielsen F S 2011 Goddeis genter Mal amp maele 34 1 pp 13 18 Halliday M A K 1976 Anti Languages American Anthropologist 78 3 s 570 584 nbsp This language related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rotvaelsk amp oldid 1193198556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
