| Population |
200,000 in Greece (1995 Greek Monitor of Human and Minority Rights 1.3 Dec. 1995), out of possibly 700,000 in the ethnic group (Association of French Aromanians). Population total all countries 260,000 to 378,000. |
| Region |
Northwest Salonika, and northern Greece, Pindus Mts., around Trikala. Also spoken in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Yugoslavia. |
| Alternate names |
MACEDO-RUMANIAN, ARUMANIAN, AROMANIAN, ARMINA, VLACH |
| Classification |
Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern. |
| Comments |
Structurally a distinct language from Romanian (F. Agard). It split from the other 3 Rumanian languages between 500 and 1000 A.D. Many dialects. Bilingualism in Greek. People over 50 are fluent in Aromanian, many between 25 to 50 are passive speakers with limited knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Some younger ones know the language. Rapid assimilation to Greek culture; children attend Greek schools. 20% live traditionally. No legal status in Greece. Not taught in school except for one course at the University of Salonica. Some revival of the culture in progress since the 1980s. 'Armini' refers to the people. Roman or Greek alphabet used. Traditionally shepherds and woodworkers. Christian. Bible portions 1881-1889. |
| Albania |
| Language name |
ROMANIAN, MACEDO |
| Population |
50,000 (1995 T.J. Winnifrith) or more out of up to 400,000 in the ethnic group in Albania. |
| Alternate names |
MACEDO-RUMANIAN, ARUMANIAN, ARUMUN, AROMUNIAN, ARMINA, VLACH |
| Comments |
Structurally a distinct language from Romanian (F. Agard). Inherent intelligibility with Romanian is very low. It split from the other three Romanian languages between 500 and 1000 A.D. No Arumanian language teaching, press, or television. A church in Korçë holds services in Arumanian. 'Armini' refers to the people. Bible portions 1881-1889. See main entry under Greece. |
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| Bulgaria |
| Language name |
ROMANIAN, MACEDO |
| Population |
2,000 to 3,000 (Sofia Aromanian Society). |
| Alternate names |
MACEDO-RUMANIAN, ARUMANIAN, AROMANIAN, ARMINA |
| Comments |
Structurally a distinct language from Romanian (F. Agard). 'Armini' refers to the people. Their relatives emigrated from Macedonia and northern Greece between 1850 and 1914. The Romanian Cultural Institute has been closed since 1948. Bible portions 1881-1889. See main entry under Greece. |
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| Macedonia |
| Language name |
ROMANIAN, MACEDO |
| Population |
8,467 (1994 official figures) to 100,000 (1994 British Helsinki Human Rights Group). |
| Alternate names |
ARUMANIAN, AROMUNIAN, ARMINA, MACEDO-RUMANIAN |
| Comments |
Structurally a distinct language from Romanian (F. Agard). Split from the other 3 Romanian languages between 500 and 1000 A.D. 'Armini' refers to the people. Bible portions 1881-1889. See main entry under Greece. |
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| Romania |
| Language name |
ROMANIAN, MACEDO |
| Population |
28,000 (official Romanian figure) to 150,000 (World Union of Aromanian Women), or 200,000 (President of the Aromanian Youth Foundation). |
| Alternate names |
AROMANIAN |
| Comments |
The educational structure is being set up to teach in Aromanian. Speakers are officially related to the Romanians rather than classified as a minority. Newspapers, radio programs, TV. See main entry under Greece. |
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| Yugoslavia |
| Language name |
ROMANIAN, MACEDO |
| Population |
Up to 15,000 (Society of Aromanians). |
| Comments |
See main entry under Greece. |
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