Ethnologie der Zigeuner. Von der Begegnung zur Theoriebildung

To all Gypsy groups the factum is common, that they are firmly enclosed by a society, from which they want to keep distance. Analyzing the relations between this communities and the larger society meets tendencies of amalgamating as well as tendencies of separating. Among the latter the originality and creativity in putting together the ‘own culture’ are striking, so that a permanent signiflcat of distance (Gypsy identity) is opposed to flexible significants of distancing (cultural traits), which are often transformed elements of the majority culture.