Földessy Edina, Szűcs Alexandra, Wilhelm Gábor: Tabula 5/2 (Néprajzi Közlemények; Budapest, 2002)

KOVAI CECÍLIA: Az átokról. „Cigány beszéd" a gömbaljaiak között

CECÍLIA KOVAI About curse. "Gypsy talk" in Gömbalja, Hungary This paper is about an important cultural strategy, the curse of the Gypsy in Gombaija. The author became gradually aware of the importance and the rich cultural context of this speech act during her field-work. The curse is a tool, a game of these Gypsies the use of which has to be well mastered if one wish to gain respect within the community. With the help of it not only the social space between neighboring groups can be measured, relatives recognized or other Gypsies will be classified it can also serve as an instrument for keeping outsiders away from the own community. The essay attempts to depict the different roles curses may play in social life. It not only gives a fine-graded classification of the actual curses but describes their complex cultural context as well.