Re: yiddish language decline?

[Dick Rosenberg <mashke...>]

> I guess no one has informed the Chassidic community who continue to
> speak this "dead" language as part of their daily lives.


I guess I don't consider a few scattered Chssidic enclaves (who are by
definition very inwardly directed) to be a viable Yiddish speaking
community, one  that is likely to produce the things we hold dear, great
Yiddish music, philosophy, political thought, art, literature, etc.

Dick


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Peck" <danpeck (at) panix(dot)com>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 7:56 PM
Subject: Re: yiddish language decline?


> I guess no one has informed the Chassidic community who continue to
> speak this "dead" language as part of their daily lives.
>
> >Hi. Yesterday afternoon I heard a story on NPR (an introduction before
the
> >Yiddish Radio Project that starts broadcasting today) about the decline
of
> >Yiddish. A linguist (I forgot his name) stated that even though many
> >students are studying the language at universities around the planet
(even
> >in Germany and Poland) and that there is additional interest attributed
to
> >the growing popularity of klezmer music there is still such a decline in
> >yiddish usage that it's considered a dying language.
> >
> >Does that sound about right?
> >
> >I'm a bit surpised that it would be considered "dying" because there
seems
> >to be so much conscientious effort towards preservation.
>
> --
> =======================================================
> Dan Peck    Milesquare Associates  Living Traditions  Old Time Music
> Co-Author of Filemaker 5/5.5  Advanced: Visual Quick Pro Guide (Peachpit
Press)
> Member: Filemaker Solutions Alliance
> "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither." - Ben Franklin
>
>

---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+