Mendele: Yiddish literature and language ______________________________________________________ Contents of Vol. 1 no. 72 September 30, 1991 1) A typology (Victor of Bers) 2) Another source for curses (Mikhl Herzog) 3) Sneezes and blessings (David Sherman) 1)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 29 Sep 91 13:50 EDT From: VBERS@YALEVM.BITNET Subject: More zedelverter My parents remind me that naronim are to be found at two madreges: the vinterdiker nar (he has to take off his coat and hat before his stupidity is evident), and the zumerdiker nar, whom one detects at once. 2)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 29 Sep 91 16:22 EDT From: ZOGUR@CUVMB.BITNET Subject: RE: Mendele Vol 1.70 "broygez" (Litvish, sometimes "bareygez")" as in "mir zaynen broygez eyner afn andern" is best rendered with English "mad at" (= don't speak to one anothe r, etc. "zayn in ka(a)s" is simply "to be angry". In response to a new review of Henry Roth's "Call it Sleep" (NYRB, Alfred Kazin), I've bee rereading the book. It's a goldmine of Yiddish curse, in very elegant English; a challenge to anyone who might top reconstruct the original Yiddish. 3)---------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 29 Sep 91 15:15:33 EDT From: David Sherman Subject: RE: Mendele Vol 1.70 > On a second sneeze (after "tzu gezunt" on the first): tzu > lebn [to life]; > > On a third sneeze: tzu lange yorn [to long years]. On even a first sneeze, we use "Tzum gezint, tzum lebn, an alte {bube/zayda} zolsti vern". ______________________________________________________ End of Mendele Vol 1.72