If you ask people — including Jews — what the Jewish languages are, they’re likely to say Hebrew and Yiddish. But with the Jewish people scattered all over the world for two millennia, Jews have developed many other unique tongues. These include Ladino, Yevanic, Bukharian, Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Italian, Jabali, Judeo-Amazigh, Haketia, Judeo-Malayalam, Judeo-Marathi, Judeo-Persian, Judeo-Tajik, and Judeo-Tatic. Unfortunately, many of these languages have become largely or totally extinct. Click on the links below to learn about this fascinating cultural and linguistic story.
Quote: Sometimes these “Jewish” languages are very similar to the dominant language around them, yet Jewish forms of languages contain clearly distinct elements. Hebrew words, quotes from Jewish prayers and elements from other languages picked up in the Jewish diaspora mark “Jewish” minority languages. The history of exile is etched into Jewish languages.
— AISH.com
Learn more about Jewish languages from Wikipedia. ►
Watch “5 Jewish Languages You Didn’t Know Existed” [8:00]. ►
Read “6 Little-Known Jewish Languages” ►
Watch “Which one is our language? — Judeo-Spanish Collection” [15:54]. ►
Watch “Jewish Neo-Aramaic” ►
Watch “The History & Revival of the Hebrew Language | History of Israel Explained | Unpacked” [10:58]. ►
Photo: NLI.org.il
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