01:563:245:01
(crosslisted as 01:470:280:01)
This course will provide students with an overview of the language and culture of Yiddish, the traditional vernacular of Ashkenazic Jews for over 1,000 years. Students will learn about the distinctive structure of Yiddish as a fusion language and about the multilingual nature of its speakers. The course will continue with an overview of key areas of Yiddish cultural activity from the early modern period to the present, including religious life, political activism, secular literature, press, and the performing arts. Finally, the course will consider the role of Yiddish both during the Holocaust—when half of the speech community was murdered and its European cultural center destroyed—and afterwards, as both Jews and others forge new relations with the language. All course readings and materials will be in English. No prior knowledge of linguistics, of Yiddish or any other language, or of Jewish history or religion is required.
Spring 2024 taught by Prof. Jeffrey Shandler
Tuesday / Thursday, 2:00-3:20 PM Miller Hall 116
Have questions? You can email Professor Goldman at
