Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 08.081 November 4, 1998 1) "froyds teorye fun khaloymes" (moishe kijak) 2) Translating Yiddish Poetry (Hershl Hartman) 3) info on a song (Avraham Chasid) 4) bandura (Yale Strom) 5) Nayes funem Argentiner IWO (Simkhe (Saul) Drayer) 6) a poem (herman taube) 7) sentence stucture (Feigl I Glaser) 8) a song (david getlin) 9) Vyagre oyf yiddish (Simkhe Drayer) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 06:34:43 -0400 (EDT) From: "Gustavo Kijak" Subject: "froyds teorye fun khaloymes" Tayere fraynt, inem zurnal "yidishe kultur" numer 10 funem yor 1948, iz faran a notits vegn a forshtelung vos di kinstler dyana blumenfeld un yonas turkov hobn oyfgefirt in nyu york in oktober 1948. di komedye vos zey hobn oyfgefirt iz geven "froyds teorye fun khaloymes" funem dramaturg a. tsvaydinsky. es iz a satire vegn froyds teoryes un iz geshpilt gevorn durkh di dozike aktyorn in eyrope far der milkhome un afilu in varshever geto. iz emitsn bakant mer protim vegn der doziker komedye un tsi es iz meglekh tsu bakumen dem tekst? ikh vel zeyer danken aykh oyb yr kent mir aroyshelfn . zayt ale gezunt. ayer fraynt fun argentine moishe kijak 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 13:15:45 -0400 (EDT) From: Hershl@aol.com Subject: Translating Yiddish Poetry Leah Zazulyer raises an issue (08.075) that is of great interest to me and on which I have spoken publicly. (I had planned to discuss the subject at this summer's conference of the International Association of Yiddish Clubs, but bureaucracy intervened.) It is not--and should not be--a matter of "either/or." Rhyme, rhyme pattern and meter are vital, not only in translating song lyrics, but in rendering all Yiddish poetry into English. Of course, some celebrated writers who take flings at translating Yiddish poetry don't deign to bother with the poets' genius in conveying poetic ideas in strict rhyme and meter. They, the famous- name, now and again translators, are convinced that they know better than, say, Perets or Reyzin or Itsik Manger. This does not in any way diminish the need to translate, as well, the "other poetic aspects" that Leah Zazulyer listed, "such as 'voice', 'tone', assonance, form or structure, and formality or informality of language..." All of it is important. No aspect can be slighted without doing violence to the original and, as a result, leaving the English reader uninformed about the full genius of Yiddish poetry. I'm not sure that the problem stems only or mainly from "Victorian" attempts to "elevate" Yiddish poets and their work. I'm afraid that what's often at work is a cavalier attitude or just plain laziness. It's not easy to render Yiddish poetry in its original form while transmitting the other listed characteristics. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. More, perhaps, than many translators are willing to commit. This relates, too, to the matter of cost. A leading research institution whose endowment is beyond legendary recently sought a translation of a Yiddish literary work. The original Yiddish text was printed in prose form but is composed entirely of delightful rhymed, rythmic verses. Offered three options--a prose translation at relatively low cost; one that would preserve meaning and meter while not straining for rhyme, at somewhat higher cost; or the far greater time (and cost) consuming effort to render the work faithfully--the world renowned and fabulously wealthy institution went the cheapest route. I'd be interested to learn the opinions of other Mendelyaner on the issues involved in Yiddish poetry translation. Hershl Hartman Los Angeles 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 18:17:57 -0400 (EDT) From: Abe Chasid Subject: info on a song Shalom. Can anyone give me information about a Yiddish song which has the words "vos bistu ketseleh broigez". Where can I find the complete set of words? A groiser dank Avraham Chasid 4)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 12:20:29 -0400 (EDT) From: Yitztyco@aol.com Subject: bandura This is for Itsik Goldenberg who enquired about the meaning of "bandura." The bandura was and still is a plectrum instrument played in the regions of Bukowina, Bessarabia, and Moldalvia, Rumania. It looks somwething like a lute with its body round in shape and the neck bent at a 90 degree angle. Klezmorim from this region use to perform on this instrument, along with Rom (Gypsies) and Ukranians. It is actually a Ukranian folk instrument still used. Today you would be hard pressed to find people playing then bandura in Romania. Mostly in Ukraine. In Romania the cobza was similar to the bandura and also used by klezmorim prior-to WW Two. When one thinks of a klezmer kapelye rarely does one think of plectrum instruments being used outside of the mandolin. Yale Strom 5)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 19:15:21 -0400 (EDT) From: "Drajer" Subject: Nayes funem Argentiner IWO (YIVO) Tayere Mendelyaner un Mendelyanerkes: Dem fargangenem 14tn oktober iz forgeshtelt gevorn in dem gepaktn zall funem Buenosayreser Psikhoanalitisher Gezelshaft, di letste oysgabe funem IWO, der bukh "Cuentos y Chistes Judios" (yiddishe detseilungen un vitsn), geshribn oyf shpanish fun dokter Cesar Forster, mit an araynfir vort funem IWO (YIVO) direktor Avrom Lichtenbaum. Der Mechaber, a bakanter psikhoanalyst, hot gezamlt in di letste funftsik, a reye komishe dertseylungen vos zenen geshribn gevorn mit groys talant un shayn. Dos iz der driter bukh vos der IWO git aroys in meshej funem yor. Un es iz do a ferter bukh in druk! Mer nayes: Oyb emetser meynt az Dzigan un Schumakher zenen bloys libe zikhroynes fun der fargangenheyt, hot a toes! Me ken zey zen un hern lebedikerheyt inem IWO zal, oyf gas Ayacucho 483 in Buenos Aires! Norman Erlich un Luis Minces, tsvey barimte hige shoyshpiler vos banutsn zikh mit a vunderbarn klingedikn yiddish (mitn gantsn schmalts), hobn forgeshtelt a spectakl mit originele monologn un duetn fun Dzigan un Schumakher's repertuar, mit der mitteylung fun Cesar Beleni (a vunderbarer zinger) un piano bagleytung fun Nestor Stofblat. Yiddishe lider un humor iz a prekhtike kombinatsye. Der spektakl heyst "abyi men zet zikh". Der oylem kaikhlt far gelekhter,....un lozt dervayl arop a trer. Last October 14, at the packed hall of the Buenos Aires Psichoanalytical Association (APdeBA), was presented the book "Cuentos y Chistes Judios" (Jewish stories and jokes) written in spanish by Dr. Cesar Forster with a foreword of the IWO (YIVO) director Abraham Lichtenbaum. The author, a renown psychoanalyst, gathered in the last fifty years a large row of jokes which are written with taste and talent. This is the third book published this year by the IWO. And there is a fourth one in press! More news: If someone thinks that Dzigan and Schumacher are only dear memories form the past.. is wrong! Both are alive and kicking at the IWO hall, 483 Ayacucho St., Buenos Aires, Argentina! Normal Erlich and Luis Minces, two local actors with a "schmaltzy" yiddish, are performing with great success, some of the original monologues and duets of Dzigan and Schumacher. The show, named "Aby men zet zikh" (nice to see each other) is completed with the performance of Cesar Beleny (an outstanding singer) and the pianist Nestor Stofblat. People split their sides laughing from beginning to end and, why not, shed also some tears... Simkhe (Saul) Drayer 6)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 14:09:58 -0500 (EST) From: HTaube218@aol.com Subject: a poem I like to share with you a short poetic note, written many years ago I still remember and recite it often in my Yiddish class. Yidish Ich shpin maine troimen in Yiddish, a shprach aingeflanzt in main neshome, mame un mame-loshon - ain kval fun velchn ich shep un trink kesaider. Main mames tzarte shtime hot geredt Yiddish, farflaitzt mit libe main yugent, Wen ich zing un wen ich cholem, main mame's yerushe iz alemol do.... Main Zeide's shmuesn, dem rebbe's droshe, main mames gezang, Peretz dertzailungen, di shprach gehailikt fun a folk martirer vet lebn in mir biz main letztn otem.... herman taube 7)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 13:22:31 -0500 (EST) From: yiddish1@juno.com (Feigl I Glaser) Subject: YIDDISH SENTENCE STRUCTURE Dem 22stn October iz arayn tsvishn Mendele e-briv di onfrages fun Dovid Hershkovitsh tsi er hot zikh gut oysgedrikt bafelndik zayn kind "nem es nisht tsu fun im (in some dialects tsi fun im/em)!" un tsi men ken oykh zogn "nem es fun im nisht tsu!" Ikh halt az beyde zaynen rikhtik. In a zats in imperativ kumt der verb oyfn ershtn ort. Oykh ven men shtelt a frage ken der verb farnemen dos ershte ort, khotsh merstns farnemt er di tsveyte positsye un gevise lingvistn hobn prubirt bavayzn az dos tsveyte ort fun verb in a frage iz a klall. Ikh halt az ale dray untn oysgerekhnte fregzatsn zaynen rikhtike oyf mame-loshn: "Tsi hostu haynt gezen Shloymen?"; "Efsher hostu haynt gezen Shloymen?" " Hostu haynt gezen Shloymen?" Vos shaykh deklerative zatsn, iz es an AYZERNER KLAL az di tsveyte pozitsye in a zats (d"h di tsveyte pozitsye nisht DOS tsveyte vort" farnemt der konyugirter verb: (1) DER GUTER ZUN (2)KUMT (3)ALE TOG (4) ZEN (5) ZAYNE ELTERN; oder (1) ALE TOG (2) KUMT (3) DER GUTER ZUN (4) ZEN (5) ZAYNE ELTERN, ad"gl. In beyde faln farnemt der teil funem verb vos vert konyugirt di tsveyte pozitsye. On the 22nd of October, we received Mendele e-mail with David Hershkowitz's inquiry whether he expressed himself properly in the imperative by saying: "nem es nisht tsu fun im" and whether "nem es fun im nisht tsu" would have been equally correct. I believe that both are correct Yiddish commands. He also asked whether anyone could explain the basic rule for Yiddish sentence structure. I will attempt to hurriedly answer. (A) In declarative sentences N.P.-- NOUN PHRASES (noun and modifiers) OR OTHER UNITS EXCEPT THE INFLECTED PART OF THE VERB are allowed, but only one must be chosen (subject noun, subject pronoun, adverb/ial phrase,or indirect object). N.U.W. (non-unit words) can preceed the N.P. (ober - but, oder - or, az/oyb - if, un - and, vayl - because, to - so; khotsch - despite/though). (B) THE SECOND POSITION TAKES THE VERB PHRASE --a) THE INFLECTED VERB, AUXILLIARY VERB OR MODALS -- THAT'S AN IRON RULE; b) optional: nagating verb, pronoun, subject. adverb, direct object, indirect object. (C) V.N.I. - VERB NON INFLECTED - In senctences containing in addition to the inflected verb, an uninflected part, past participle or infinitive, sentence units may be place between the two parts of the verb and after the uninflected part. (4) N. P. OTHER INFINITIVES, OBJECT NOUN AND PHRASES, PREDICATED NOUNS AND ADJECTIVES, ADVERBIAL AND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES, CLAUSES. I believe that although some linguists tried to make a rule that in inquiring sentences the verb also takes the second position, I believe that it is not always so. Feigl Glaser 8)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 10:16:13 -0500 (EST) From: david getlin Subject: song several years ago i visited carnegie hall to hear steve lawrence in concert. one of the many songs he sang was my yiddishe momme with such reverence and feeling. would anyone know if he might have a record of that song? david getlin 9)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 06:14:31 -0500 (EST) From: "Drajer" Subject: Vyagre oyf yiddish In Buenos Ayres dertseylt men az der rikhtiker yiddisher nomen oyf vyagre iz "vi amol". Simkhe Drayer. ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol. 08.081 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