The Languages of the Jews
Cambridge University Press, 3/27/2014
EAN 9781107055445, ISBN10: 110705544X
Hardcover, 376 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm
Language: English
Historical sociolinguistics is a comparatively new area of research, investigating difficult questions about language varieties and choices in speech and writing. Jewish historical sociolinguistics is rich in unanswered questions: when does a language become 'Jewish'? What was the origin of Yiddish? How much Hebrew did the average Jew know over the centuries? How was Hebrew re-established as a vernacular and a dominant language? This book explores these and other questions, and shows the extent of scholarly disagreement over the answers. It shows the value of adding a sociolinguistic perspective to issues commonly ignored in standard histories. A vivid commentary on Jewish survival and Jewish speech communities that will be enjoyed by the general reader, and is essential reading for students and researchers interested in the study of Middle Eastern languages, Jewish studies, and sociolinguistics.
Glossary
1. Is Hebrew an endangered language?
2. The emergence of Hebrew
3. Hebrew-Aramaic bilingualism and competition
4. Three languages in Hellenistic and Roman Palestine
5. From statehood to diaspora
6. The Arabian and African connections
7. The spread of Islam
8. The Jews of France
9. The Jews of Spain and their languages
10. Loter-Ashkenaz and the creation of Yiddish
11. The Yavanic area - Greece and Italy
12. Jews in Slavic lands
13. Linguistic emancipation and assimilation in Europe
14. Britain, its former colonies and the New World
15. Islam and the Orient
16. The return to Zion and Hebrew
Appendix
estimated current status of Jewish languages.
Advance praise: 'Bernard Spolsky's magnum opus shows us the complexities of a globalized sociolinguistic system within a relatively small community of people. It is a sobering book for those who still cherish a one culture - one language image of societies, and an encouragement to all those who take delight in the unexpected intricacies of language in society.' Jan Blommaert, Tilburg University
Advance praise: '… an impressive tour de force through time and space, tracing three millennia of multilingualism of the Jewish people.' Benjamin Hary, Emory University
Advance praise: 'An engaging and panoramic vade mecum through four millennia of Jewish history, the languages they spoke, and the essential formative role of Hebrew throughout … laced with intimate and questioning reflections of a distinguished scholar.' Norman A. Stillman, Schusterman/Josey Professor of Judaic History, University of Oklahoma
Advance praise: '… a masterpiece that in one fell swoop replaces the earlier partisan, parochial works emanating from this or that theory-pusher … Spolsky lays out on his generous table the vast universe of ideas and facts, beautifully structured. Yet for all his love of the languages covered, he is able to stand back and give the reader a meticulously honest selection of interpretations and sources from which to choose. [This] is the first (and only) work to tell the general reader about the ongoing robust debates about each language and period (and indeed about all of them), with fairness to all sides and PR for none; with clarity … about each position, and with careful compilation of bibliography enabling you to continue study of whichever language (or theory) attracts you. A magnificent contribution to the study of Jewish languages. At long last.' Dovid Katz, formerly Vilnius University