Yinglish

The term Yinglish describes the distinctive way certain Orthodox Jews in America speak English among themselves. Their spoken (but not written) language is a pidgin containing varying amounts of Hebrew language and Yiddish and uses English words as literal translations of their Yiddish original and not necessarily in the sense that other English speakers would. Famous features of Yinglish include expressions such as "eating by ..." instead of "eating at ..." and the frequent use of Hebrew verbs conjugated with the English to be (for example, "to be misyaesh" for "to give up"). In some instances, the language is spoken in a lilting Eastern European accent, reflecting the singsong melody of Talmud-study in a yeshiva, even though the speakers might be second- and even third-generation Americans. Interestingly enough, many non-Jews who come into contact with the aforementioned Traditional Jews speak Yinglish (even among themselves).

Related Topics:
Orthodox Jews - English - Pidgin - Hebrew language - Yiddish - Eastern European - Talmud - Yeshiva

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Little serious research has been conducted on Yinglish, but it seems to be one means for an insular community to maintain its sense of identity within itself, while adopting external cultural norms such as language.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~