Yiddish : a German language written in Hebrew characters that is spoken by Jews and descendants of Jews of central and eastern European origin. - Merriam-Webster Dictionary
How many of these words surprised you to see that they are used in English?
How many of you were surprised that Yiddish is a thing in English? Yiddish is one example of how language tells the story of how paths have crossed and will keep on crossing - throughout history.
American television has been greatly influenced by Jews - just to name a very few: Woody Allen, Rhoda on the Mary Tylor Moore Show, Jerry Seinfeld, John Stewart. Television has been the great game-changer of the 21st century. We interacted with cultures and people that we would normally not. We feel like we know the people personally who come into homes every Thursday evening through a little box in the living room. And this changes us -and it changes our language.
As a linguist, I am fascinated by these changes. I love how people use words to tell their stories. Each and every word had to be created by someone. Each word comes from somewhere and that somewhere is changing all the time. Many people who use these words, don't even know that they are Yiddish. Words and phrases that enter our lives changes who we are and how we think. It is our language that tells the story of how everyone's paths have crossed and will keep on crossing - throughout history.
I love how language can surprise people. It's a moment of recognition of how we are all connected. When, for example, I teach my customers the words in this short list, I love to see their surprise! (More about German words in the English language coming in another post very soon!) But I am also surprised at how much I see these words and use these expressions in my day-to-life - even though I am not Jewish.
- Yiddish -
A common ground between German and English
Language tells a cultural story. The words that show up in our stories tell us who has been there and how much influence their presence has had. It becomes especially interesting when cultural words start reaching across boundaries. It's evidence of groups coming to together, integrating - we share our words because we share our stories.
I love how language brings us together. How the use of words changes how we connect and evolves our sense of belonging.
Have you ever had an experience of surprise over a word and how it is used?
I love to hear people's language stories!
I love Yiddish. :)