Origins of Yiddish Dialects

Origins of Yiddish Dialects

Author: Alexander Beider

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 646

ISBN-13: 0198739311

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book traces the origins of modern varieties of Yiddish and presents evidence for the claim that, contrary to most accounts, Yiddish only developed into a separate language in the 15th century. Through a careful analysis of Yiddish phonology, morphology, orthography, and the Yiddish lexicon in all its varieties, Alexander Beider shows how what are commonly referred to as Eastern Yiddish and Western Yiddish have different ancestors. Specifically, he argues that the western branch is based on German dialects spoken in western Germany with some Old French influence, while the eastern branch has its origins in German dialects spoken in the modern-day Czech Republic with some Old Czech influence. The similarities between the two branches today are mainly a result of the close links between the underlying German dialects, and of the close contact between speakers. Following an introduction to the definition and classification of Yiddish and its dialects, chapters in the book investigate the German, Hebrew, Romance, and Slavic components of Yiddish, as well as the sound changes that have occurred in the various dialects. The book will be of interest to all those working in the areas of Yiddish and Jewish Studies in particular, and historical linguistics and history more generally.


Where Once We Walked

Where Once We Walked

Author: Gary Mokotoff

Publisher: Bergenfield, NJ : Avotaynu

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 744

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Gazetteer providing information about more than 23,500 towns in Central and Eastern Europe where Jews lived before the Holocaust.


A Biographical Dictionary of Women's Movements and Feminisms

A Biographical Dictionary of Women's Movements and Feminisms

Author: Francisca de Haan

Publisher: Central European University Press

Published: 2006-01-10

Total Pages: 698

ISBN-13: 6155053723

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This Biographical Dictionary describes the lives, works and aspirations of more than 150 women and men who were active in, or part of, women’s movements and feminisms in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe. Thus, it challenges the widely held belief that there was no historical feminism in this part of Europe. These innovative and often moving biographical portraits not only show that feminists existed here, but also that they were widespread and diverse, and included Romanian princesses, Serbian philosophers and peasants, Latvian and Slovakian novelists, Albanian teachers, Hungarian Christian social workers and activists of the Catholic women’s movement, Austrian factory workers, Bulgarian feminist scientists and socialist feminists, Russian radicals, philanthropists, militant suffragists and Bolshevik activists, prominent writers and philosophers of the Ottoman era, as well as Turkish republican leftist political activists and nationalists, internationally recognized Greek feminist leaders, Estonian pharmacologists and science historians, Slovenian ‘literary feminists,’ Czech avant-garde painters, Ukrainian feminist scholars, Polish and Czech Senate Members, and many more. Their stories together constitute a rich tapestry of feminist activity and redress a serious imbalance in the historiography of women’s movements and feminisms.


The Adventures of Menahem-Mendl

The Adventures of Menahem-Mendl

Author: Sholem Aleichem

Publisher: Sholom Aleichem Family Publications

Published: 1969

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Letters between a husband and wife provide another magical glimpse into the world of Sholom Aleichem.


Russian-Jewish Given Names

Russian-Jewish Given Names

Author: Boris Feldblyum

Publisher:

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"Based on a book published in Russia in 1911, this work presents to the English-speaking reader a comprehensive collection of Jewish given names used in Russia at the turn of the 20th century--more than 6,000 names in all. These names are also included in a dictionary of root names which shows its etymology as well as all variants of the names identifying them as kinnui (everyday names), variants or distortions. The introductory portion of the book is a historical essay that reviews the evolution of Jewish given names from biblical times through the late 19th century in Russia."--Publisher description.


Jewish Personal Names

Jewish Personal Names

Author: Shmuel Gorr

Publisher: Avotaynu

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"This book shows the roots of more than 1,200 Jewish personal names. It shows all Yiddish/Hebrew variants of a root name with English transliteration. Hebrew variants show the exact spelling including vowels. Footnotes explain how these variants were derived. An index of all variants allows you to easily locate the name in the body of book. Also presented are family names originating from personal names."--Publisher description.