The Holiness of Yiddish: Who Says Yiddish is Holy and Why?

Author: Fishman J.A.

Source: Language Policy, Volume 1, Number 2, 2002 , pp. 123-141(19)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The pace of sanctifying profane vernaculars is speeding up and the process is spreading outside of its European primary base. The sanctification of Yiddish as revealed in writing about the language suggests a number of distinctions within sanctity as well as crucial associations with special individuals, literary works, kinship relationships and heightened suffering which are tied to ascriptions of sanctity, by secular as well as religious spokespersons. However, two profiles emerge, which differ in details which are highly revealing of the bases upon which Jewish secularists and religionists ascribe sanctity.

Keywords: language attitudes; language sanctity; positive ethnolinguistic consciousness; status change in vernaculars; Yiddish

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Yeshiva University (NY), Stanford University (CA), New York University (NY) and CUNY-GC (NY), Ferkauf Graduate School, Yeshiva University, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY 10461, USA E-mail: jfishman@aecom.yu.edu

Publication date: 2002-01-01