Re: Terkishe vs Terkisher

[Sandra Layman <sandralayman...>]

Dear Helen,

A few months ago, I, too, was getting thrown by seeing both -e and -er being 
used (in my case, it was regarding the Boyberiker Kapelye).

Here's the most succinct reply I got from the various Yiddish experts I 
consulted. This was from Leonard Prager:

<<
"Adjectives formed by suffixation of -er to the names of cities and towns do 
not inflect. They retain the -er ending in all cases, numbers and genders."

Dovid Katz, _Grammar of the Yiddish Language_. 

 Or see Uriel Weinreich, _College Yiddish_, Lesson 14 [uninflected adjectives]. 
>>


OK, so, pulling out my Weinreich, Chapter 14, page 132, "Uninflected 
Adjectives," I read:

"Some adjectives are formed from geographical names. If their bases end in -er 
or -aner, they are not inflected. They retain the same form in all cases and 
genders in the singular as well as in the plural."


So the -er ending is correct, no matter what the gender or number or case. This 
rule applies to adjectives derived not just from cities and towns, but also 
from other geographical entities. (Terkisher is still an adjective, since 
"tants" is understood.)

"Terkisher" with the "e" (and not a "u") is correct.

HTH,
Sandra

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Helen Winkler 
  To: World music from a Jewish slant 
  Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 10:08 AM
  Subject: Terkishe vs Terkisher


  Just wondering, sometimes I see the klezmer tunes with the syrtos rhythm 
called Terkisher and sometims Terkishe.  Is one a noun and the other an 
adjective?  Is it preferable to use one term over the other?  The spelling also 
varies from--sometimes Tu sometimes Te--are they both acceptable?
  Helen