Posted on Jan 16, 2022
A Language With Chutzpah: Yiddish And American Culture : 1A
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When was the last time you ate a bagel? Gave a spiel at work? Called someone a klutz? Tried to have chutzpah? Contacted Apple about an iPhone glitch?
These may feel like quintessential examples of being a modern American, but the keywords behind them aren't: they're Yiddish.
These may feel like quintessential examples of being a modern American, but the keywords behind them aren't: they're Yiddish.
A Language With Chutzpah: Yiddish And American Culture : 1A
Posted from npr.org
Languages
Foreign Language
Judaism
American History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Zabar's, we're known for our Babka as much as for our Smoked Fish! Come on in and have a look at where your next morning meal can be found.
Zabars! And —-> thank goodness for rush delivery when not in the Big Apple!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgKa1IQbies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgKa1IQbies
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I understand the point they are getting at. But they create a false dichotomy.
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don’t just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." - James Nicoll (a different version is attributed to Terry Pratchett, but this is the original).
These words may be Yiddish in ORIGIN, but that does not mean they are not ALSO part of modern Americana. The words have been fully assimilated and - while they retain their Yiddish origin - are fully part of the American dialect of the English language.
Can we say that the words champagne, key / quay, shampoo, bluetooth, algebra, or the abbreviations e.g., i.e., and etc. are not part of Americana? What about Roman numerals? Those are VERY obviously not American or even English - but we sure do use them a lot to make something stand out.
And if we REALLY want to get down to it, there is very little in this world that is MORE American than cultural appropriation.
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don’t just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." - James Nicoll (a different version is attributed to Terry Pratchett, but this is the original).
These words may be Yiddish in ORIGIN, but that does not mean they are not ALSO part of modern Americana. The words have been fully assimilated and - while they retain their Yiddish origin - are fully part of the American dialect of the English language.
Can we say that the words champagne, key / quay, shampoo, bluetooth, algebra, or the abbreviations e.g., i.e., and etc. are not part of Americana? What about Roman numerals? Those are VERY obviously not American or even English - but we sure do use them a lot to make something stand out.
And if we REALLY want to get down to it, there is very little in this world that is MORE American than cultural appropriation.
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