Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 4.055 July 12, 1994 1) Jewess etc... (Harold L. Orbach) 2) "Frimzelish": romance elements in Mayrev yidish (Rick Gildemeister) 3) Echad mi yodeah (Rita Falbel) 4) Echad mi yodeah (Harvey Spiro) 5) Echad mi yodeah (Avrom Yitzkhok Blair) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Jul 94 01:31 CDT From: HLORBACH@KSUVM Subject: Jewess etc... The discussion on the term 'Jewess' has led to interesting views and some "presumed" rules. In fact, as the discussion has shown, there is no consistency in English and the addition of "ess" [or "ress"] has no inherent "meaning" and may depend entirely on historical and, thus, changing circumstances of usage. Different times, different tam. The animal argument falls when we note that even among the felines, we have lioness and tigress but no panthress, lynxess, ocelotess, jaguaress ... And the "lesser" human argument also fails if we ask where are such as Indianess, savagess, barbarianess, Mooress, Africaness, blackess ... This is a matter for sociolinguistics, detailed historical analysis of the history and context of development of a usage. In Shakespeare's or Scott's time, in England, the 'ess' is hardly demeaning, else why would we find it in mistress, countess, duchess, baroness, princess, ... Of course we need the expert advice of historical linguists and literary analysts to tell us whether this use may have been a form of snide and ironic contrast. Ellen Prince's [close to but no pun intended] comment about contemporary so-called P.C. policing is on the mark in this respect: but note that here we run into political swamps: I find no problems with priestess and of course Godess among certain feminists who might gulp at actress, poetess or sculptress. As I have never heard of an ess form of artist (artistress?) it would appear that the formation of any such feminine is partly/largely a function of sound tam in the language. Any native or near-native English speaker can find problems in the sound of various forms, but we realize this is a matter of social learning. Look at the repetitive discussion of Yiddish sounds in Mendele! That said, I will add that FOR ME, in MY TIME, the use of "Jewess" always carried a tone of condescension -- and the same for "Negress." I assume it still does for many if for no other reason than the absence of equivalent forms for other ethnic/racial/national groups. Fascinating, isn't it, that here we find another example of blacks and Jews sharing something to the exclusion of others. Harold L. Orbach 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Jul 94 11:14:01 EDT From: EEGLC%CUNYVM.bitnet@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.Edu Subject: "Frimzelish": romance elements in Mayrev yidish Some of the old Mayrev dialects are fascinating because they seem to have retained much more of the Loez component than the language found farther east. Proximity to France may have something to do with it, or maybe some sort of Judeo-Romance long dead now might have buttressed the words so they would remain. The simple phenomenon of eastward migration couldn't have caused it (Hey folks, we're moving east; let's stop saying plankhenen), as the Yiddish is a "whole" and the "folk" do not necessarily remember the derivation of a particular word. Anyway, I just wanted to share my delight with the word "frimzelish"; the "lish" is the equivalent of lekh/lakh diminutive plural. Let's line up some consonants: F r m z l sh Ver micell i The folk spirit remembers that vermicelli is diminutive and adds lish, and gib a kik -- the carry over of c to z (Wazo, formerly Wazels) in French gives you: Oiseaux Avicelli Nu, this is amateur linguistics, of course, but to get around to the point: Frimzelish are extra thin and fine noodles for soup, an authentic Western Ashkenazi delicacy (kneydlekh? kreplekh? Neyn, frimzelish). And I know this business of the "folk" is very 19th century and romantic, but have rakhmones on a poor anecdotist. I like to think Lord Byron would have liked it. Rick Gildemeister 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 12 Jul 1994 13:56:25 -0400 From: rfalbel@cumc.cornell.edu Subject: Echad mi yodeah Chana, I'm not familiar with this Yiddish version of Echad mi yodeah, but I know the one that starts out: Mu Asapru Mu Adabru, oy, oy yam tarareeya Ver ken zogen, ver ken reden Vos di eyns bedayt, vos di eyns bedayt Eyner iz Gott un Gott iz eyner, un vayter keyner If you want the rest of it I can oblige. Rita Falbel 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue Jul 12 10:22:24 1994 From: hjs@nrc.gov Subject: ekhad mi yodeya Chana Luntz asked about a variant of ekhad mi yodeya in Yidish. I only know of the version sung by Theodore Bikel in his long out-of-print, circa-1960 record "Theodore Bikel sings Jewish folk songs" (Elektra EKL-141). Words to it can be found in a Bikel hardcover songbook that is also long out-of-print. The first verse is: Mu asapru, mu adabru, oyskha, oyskha, yom da da day dum. Ver ken reden, ver ken zogn, vos der eyns bedayt, vos der eyns bedayt. Eyner is got, un got is eyner, un vayter keyner. You also might want to check the Yidish hagode printed by the Workman's Circle. I've got a copy but can't locate it easily. Harvey Spiro 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 14 Jul 1994 16:55:06 -0600 (CST) From: ablair@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Subject: Ekhod Mi Yodaya Chana: A beautiful rendition of Ekhod Mi Yodaya can be found in an album recorded by an Israeli chantuese (sp?), Yaffa Yarkoni. The album (tape) is called "Rumania, Rumania" and is all in Yiddish. She is a delightful lady, and the album is likewise delightful. It is a CBS Stereo Cassette (#40-62420) distributed by NMC Music, ltd POB 14, Holon, 58100, ISRAEL Allan (Avrom Yitzkhok)Blair ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 4.055 A Table of Contents is now available via anonymous ftp, along with weekly updates. 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