Yinglish
From Freepedia
The term Yinglish describes the distinctive way certain Orthodox Jews in America speak English among themselves. Their spoken (but not written) language is a type of mixed language that is fundamentally English but with heavy influence of Hebrew and Yiddish in grammar and lexicon. In addition to actual loanwords, Yinglish uses English words as literal translations of their Yiddish original and not necessarily in the sense that other English speakers would. Famous features of Yinglish include expressions such as "eating by ..." instead of "eating at ..." and the frequent use of Hebrew verbs conjugated with the English to be (for example, "to be misyaesh" for "to give up"). In some instances, the language is spoken in a lilting Eastern European accent, reflecting the singsong melody of Talmud-study in a yeshiva, even though the speakers might be second- and even third-generation Americans. Interestingly enough, many secular Jews and even non-Jews who come into contact with the aforementioned Traditional Jews speak Yinglish (even among themselves).
Little serious research has been conducted on Yinglish, but it seems to be one means for an insular community to maintain its sense of identity within itself, while adopting external cultural norms such as language.
See also
External links
- Jewish Language Research Website: Yiddish
- On-line Yiddish dictionary
- National Yiddish Book Center
- Shtetl
- The Yiddish Voice
- A nice list of choice Yiddish/Ameridish words.
- The Jewish Book Center of The Workmen's Circle
- Spoken Yiddish Language Project (Columbia University)
- Yiddish Wikipedia
- Yiddish in Ethnologue
- Forverts -- The Yiddish Forward
- The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring
