Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 07.132 January 15, 1998 1) Praven and "Bejaher" (Hardy Mayer) 2) kabosh (Jules Levin) 3) broyges (Mark Shenken) 4) Geyt a goy in shenkl arayn (Bob Rothstein) 5) Anglicization (Bob Poe) 6) L.A. "Times" Uses YIVO Standard Transliteration (Hershl Hartman) 7) hegdesh (Bernard Gershen) 8) Shiker Iz a Goy (Bob Kurtzman) 9) Yiddish self learning programs for PCs (Charlotte Frajman) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 21:49:54 PST From: "Meinhard E. Mayer (Hardy)" Subject: Praven and "Bejaher" If I understood him right Perets Mett assumes [7.131] that prav (or praven, as I transliterate it) is of Hebrew-Aramaic origin. As far as I know it is pure Slavic: Russian: "pravit'" has the same meaning. As for bentshn (mentioned in the same post -- I missed the previous thread as I was traveling) -- it comes from the latin "benedicere." And Joachim Neugroschel [7.131] must have missed the German "Bejaher." In the form "Lebensbejaher" I have seen it in many places. Hardy Mayer Irvine, CA 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Dec 1997 12:13:31 From: Jules Levin Subject: kabosh I just read a convincing exploration of this term (including its false Gaelic etymology) by a linguist I respect--Peter Maher. To summarize: Spellings like kibash and resulting pronunciations are due to mis- (or re-) interpretations of the word. The term in lower-class British slang is attested in Dickens (1836). The ultimate source is French caboche, an ancient hunting term glossed in Skeat and Mayhew (A Glossary of Tudor and Stuart words...) as "to cut off the head of a deer..." Caboshed heads were hung around to demonstrate hunting success, presumably... Re the streets of Brooklyn: before ethnics--Jews, Irish, Italians, etc.--walked the streets of Brooklyn, there were actually people there whose ancestors came from England! and who brought *English* slang with them!!! Jules Levin 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 23:26:20 -0800 From: Mark Shenken Subject: broyges I would be interested to know the origin of this word. It is not spelt phonetically like words of Germanic or Slavic origin and therefore assume that it might be of Hebrew or Aramaic origin. I have heard South African Jews pronounce it 'breyges' and I have seen it spelt beys reysh hey gimmel zayen as well as beys reysh vav gimmel zayen. Mark Shenken 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 08:33:02 -0500 (EST) From: ROBERT A ROTHSTEIN Subject: Geyt a goy in shenkl arayn The only published source that I know for the song "Geyt a goy..." is _Yiddish Folk Songs: 50 Songs for Voice and Piano_, collected by Sarah Pitkowsky Schack, piano arrangement by Ethel Silberman Cohen, first published by Bloch Publishing Company in NYC in 1924 (a time of less multicultural sensitivity), with later editions (e.g., third, revised edition in 1927). Andrew Cassell's comment, prompted by mention of this song, that perhaps the stereotype of the sober Jew is a bit exaggerated, finds additional support in my paper, "'Geyt a yid in shenkl arayn': Jewish Songs of Drunkenness," _The Field of Yiddish_, 5th collection (1993), ed. David Goldberg. One observation from that paper (which may, in fact, be due to an oral comment by Michael Steinlauf, to whom I hereby apologize for the lack of any published acknowledgment) is that applying phrases like _shiker/trinken vi a goy_ to a gentile would be tautological; in fact they are used to describe the habits of particular Jews. The text of the song, as published in the Schack-Cohen collection (but not as printed there since, as Pitkowsky Schack writes in her preface, "[i]n the transliteration, the German orthography was used as a basis") is as follows: GEYT A GOY IN SHENKL ARAYN Geyt a goy in shenkl arayn, in shenkl arayn, in shenkl arayn. Trinkt er dort a gut glezl vayn, a gut glezl vayn, a gut glezl vayn. Oy, shiker iz a goy, shiker iz a goy, shiker iz er, trinken muz er, vayl er iz a goy. Geyt a yid in bes-medresh arayn, in bes-medresh arayn, in bes-medresh arayn. Khapt er dort a kdushele arayn, a kdushele arayn, a kdushele arayn. Oy, nikhter iz a yid, nikhter iz a yid, nikhter iz er, davnen muz er, vayl er iz a yid. Geyt a goy fun shenkl aroys, fun shenkl aroys, fun shenkl aroys. Brekht er dort a por shoybelekh oys, a por shoybelekh oys, a por shoybelekh oys. Oy, shiker iz a goy, shiker iz a goy, shiker iz er, brekhn muz er, vayl er iz a goy. Geyt a yid fun bes-medresh aroys, fun bes-medresh aroys, fun bes-medresh aroys. Kusht er dort a por mezuzelekh oys, a por mezuzelekh oys, a por mezuzelekh oys. Oy, nikhter iz a yid, nikhter iz a yid, nikhter iz er, kushen muz er, vayl er iz a yid. (The word _muz_ in the penultimate line of each stanza is presumably pronounced _miz_ [as the dialect basis of theater Yiddish would dictate] to make the internal rhyme work.) Bob Rothstein 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 14:26:02 -0500 From: poe@ekbos.com (Bob Poe) Subject: Anglicization A frequent topic on Mendele is that of transliteration into the Roman alphabet. There appears to be widespread agreement that the YIVO system is the standard for Yiddish and should be supported and encouraged. But that's for Yiddish. What about (say) English? The same standard does not necessarily apply to the growing number of English borrowings from Yiddish. Indeed, it might be thought presumptuous for Yiddishists to dictate the proper spelling of English words. On the other hand, the spellings that abound in English contexts are extremely variable, following capricious notions of phonetics, and offensively (in my opinion) imitating German spellings in many cases. (I can forgive the contorted efforts of writers to suggest the pronunciation of Yiddish words through the use of English "phonetic" spelling, but there is no justification for using the orthographic conventions of a third language.) So perhaps there is a useful role that Yiddish scholars, speakers, readers, writers, and other interested and informed parties can play in influencing the spelling of Yiddish words in English. Any thoughts? In general, English practice is pretty good about maintaining the original spelling of foreign words that are quoted or otherwise used as explicit borrowings. In the course of time, foreign words sometimes penetrate deeply into the English language and become thoroughly naturalized. When this happens, the pronunciation and spelling may change. But at least in the first phase of this process, the foreign spelling is usually maintained. This hasn't happened with Yiddish. The main reason, surely, is the difference in the alphabets: It is much easier to maintain a foreign spelling when no transliteration is required. There is also the special way in which Yiddish is regarded by many people--as a funny, cute vernacular belonging to comedians and anyone else who lays claim to it, rather than as a real language belonging to a real people and having a real spelling. Should we urge the YIVO spelling on English writers, editors, and publishers? Or is it really too late to fight this battle, since so many Yiddish words have been spelled differently for so long in English? For instance, can we expect anyone to write `ganev' in an English sentence? It would look very strange to the average reader, who would probably not even be able to pronounce it. But do we have to accept `goniff'? Is there some compromise that we can advocate? Or should we acknowledge defeat with regard to the older and most common borrowings, on the notion that these words are thoroughly anglicized by now, and try to hold the line on newer ones? Bob Poe 6)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 20:58:01 EST From: Hershl Subject: L.A. "Times" Uses YIVO Standard Transliteration moshiekh'es tsaytn! Yesterday, Dec. 23, 1997, in its "Life & Style" section, the Los Angeles "Times" ran a "First Person" column by its staff writer, Matea Gold, which opened with the first two lines of the second stanza of "Oyfn Pripetshik," transliterated in full accordance with the YIVO standard, rather than the quasi-Germanic style usually followed in the popular press. In the body of the column, the song's opening lines were also quoted, also (almost) correctly. This encouraging development was somewhat marred, however, by the attribution "Yiddish folk song." Via the "Times'" web site, the author and editor were advised of the song's authorship, words and music, by Mark Varshavski (1848-1907). (Incidentally, the full text of _oyfn pripetshik_ in Yiddish, transliteration and singable English translation, appears in "Apples and Honey: Music and Readings for a Secular Humanistic Observance of the Jewish New Year Festival." For more information: .) Hershl Hartman Los Angeles [Note from the moderator: the full text of _oyfn pripetshik_ in Yiddish and transliteration, several version of music, and Mark Varshavsky's brief biography are available at http://sunsite.unc.edu/yiddish/songs/pripetshek -i.v.] 7)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 20:31:48 -0500 From: gershen1@juno.com Subject: hegdesh Regarding the word, "hegdesh", I remember the word as "hegnish", and it meant "a mess". I remember being told not to do something or other because "you will make a hegnish out of it". I assume that the word I remember is the same as the one being discussed. I'm not sure of the word that I know. Is it? An error in pronunciation? A pronunciation peculiar to a region? An error in my memory? I'd appreciate enlightenment. Bernard Gershen 8)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 06:21:23 +0200 From: "Gilda and Bob Kurtzman" Subject: Shiker Iz a Goy Way back in the 30s and 40s one of my favorite 78's in Yiddish was a Green Label Columbia record Shiker Iz A Goiy sung by the famous cantor Chazan Mordechai Hershman It lost its popularity some thirty-forty years ago and later I will present my interpretation why. A few months ago I bought a compact disc featuring 15 selections in Yiddish. Selection 12 is Hershman's rendition of Shiker Iz A Goy (Yiddish Masterpieces I.M.-Israel Music) Here is my transliteration of the song. Despite the twenty times or more that I played the second stanza there are 2 or3 words that "ikh hab nisht gekent khapen!" Geht der goy in shenkel arein, In shenkel arein, in shenkel arein Trinkt ehr dort a glayzele vayhn A glayzele vayhn, a glayzele vayhn Oi,vahl shiker iz der goy Shiker iz ehr trinken miz ehr vahl ehr iz a goy (2)( Geht der goy funem shenkel arauss Funem shenkel arauys,funem shenkel arauys. Klapt ehr ayza(?) YiddenA pastel auys A pastel auys, a tobele auys Oi, vahl shiker iz der goy Shiker iz ehr klapen miz ehr, vahl ehr iz a goy (2) Geht der Yid in beis midrash arein, In beis midrash arein, in beis midrash arein Khapt ehr dort a minchele arein ,a kedushele arein A brochole(?) arein, a perek mishnayess arein. Aha, vahl nikter iz a Yid Nichter iz ehr, davenen miz ehr vahl ehr iz a yid (2) In the tradition of the Yiddish orator who opens his oration with the introduction "ayder ich vel reden vel ich zogen a pohr verter", Before I speak I want to say a few words. In this case before I render my translation from Yiddish to English. (1) The second stanza is almost incomprehensible because despite my playing the stanza twenty times or more I could not "khap" three or four key words (2) I made no attempt to render a translation according to the rhyming couplets of the Yiddish text. The "goy"(non-Jew)goes into the tavern, Into the tavern, into the tavern There he drinks a glass of wine, a glass of wine A glass of wine Oh! because the goy is a drunkard Drunk he is, Drink he must because he is a goy.(2) The goy goes out of the tavern, Out of the tavern, out of the tavern He beats up Yidden (Jews) (I could not translate two phrases that follow the above) Oh! because the goy is a drunk He is drunk,he must beat up, because he is a goy (2) The Yid (Jew) goes into the study hall and prayer room (beis midrash) There he grabs in an afternoon service(minchah), a Sanctificationof the Lord prayer(kedusha) a blessing praye And a study of a chapter of the Mishna Aha, because he is sober Sober is he praying he must because he is a Jew(2) There is something especially interesting for me with this song. I must have heard it may be some hundred times and I do not recall a stanza with the words of the goy beating up Jews. I recall a stanza which is something like the following: Geht der goy fonem shenkel arauys, fonem shenkel arauys fonem shenkel arauys. Warft ehr a shtayn in beis midrash arein, in beis midrash areinand then the refrain Shiker iz a goy. The goy goes out from the tavern , goes out from the tavern, goes out from the tavern. He throws a stone into the beis midrash, into the beis midrash. How come a song which enjoyed such popularity 40-50 years ago disappeared ? Second, third and fourth generation Jews who grew up in the USA and Canada and experienced an entirely different relationship with the goy than his parents and grandparents experienced in Eastern Europe. The song is based on stereotypic thinking. Also I believe the passivity and non-violent response of the Jew as illustrated in the song is foreign to todays Jews. Chag Urim Sameach, Bob Kurtzman 9)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 25 Dec 1997 16:01:53 -0800 From: "Russell Frajman" Subject: Yiddish self learning programs for PCs My name is Charlotte Frajman and I live in Melbourne, Australia. Do you know of any self teaching software available for absolute beginners wanting to learn Yiddish? I am thinking of something similar to the excellent "Tripple Play Plus" series that teaches basic language, alphabet and pronunciation. Charlotte Frajman ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 07.132 Address for the postings to Mendele: mendele@lists.yale.edu Address for the list commands: listproc@lists.yale.edu Mendele on the Web: http://www2.trincoll.edu/~mendele http://sunsite.unc.edu/yiddish/mendele.html