Overview
Jewish Languages from A to Z provides an engaging and enjoyable overview of the rich variety of languages spoken and written by Jews over the past three thousand years. The book covers more than 50 different languages and language varieties. These include not only well-known Jewish languages like Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino, but also more exotic languages like Chinese, Esperanto, Malayalam, and Zulu, all of which have a fascinating Jewish story to be told. Each chapter presents the special features of the language variety in question, a discussion of the history of the associated Jewish community, and some examples of literature and other texts produced in it. The book thus takes readers on a stimulating voyage around the Jewish world, from ancient Babylonia to 21st-century New York, via such diverse locations as Tajikistan, South Africa, and the Caribbean. The chapters are accompanied by numerous full-colour photographs of the literary treasures produced by Jewish language-speaking communities, from ancient stone inscriptions to medieval illuminated manuscripts to contemporary novels and newspapers. This comprehensive survey of Jewish languages is designed to be accessible to all readers with an interest in languages or history, regardless of their background—no prior knowledge of linguistics or Jewish history is assumed.
Full Product Details
Author: Aaron D. Rubin ,
Lily Kahn
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Weight: 0.620kg
ISBN: 9781138487284
ISBN 10: 1138487287
Pages: 230
Publication Date: 14 September 2020
Audience:
College/higher education
,
General/trade
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
Finally! A book for the general public about Jewish languages that's as informative as it is enjoyable. As you read about the vast linguistic diversity of the Jewish people, you will also encounter a Judeo-Arabic marital dispute in medieval Cairo and translations of literature into Yiddish and Hebrew that make Christian characters Jewish. You will learn that Jews in 17th-century Kaifeng wrote Chinese names in Hebrew letters and that the first written evidence of the Italian word pizza is from a 14th-century Jewish text (spelled ). While the book offers plenty of information about languages many have heard of - like Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino - it also includes chapters on lesser known languages like Judeo-Catalan and Judeo-Tat, as well as glimpses into rare Jewish encounters with additional languages, like Malay and Zulu. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in languages, Jewish history, or both. Sarah Bunin Benor, Director of the Jewish Language Project and co-editor of the Journal of Jewish Languages
Author Information
Aaron D. Rubin is Malvin E. and Lea P. Bank Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Jewish Studies, and Linguistics at Penn State University. Lily Kahn is Professor of Hebrew and Jewish Languages at University College London.
