Blessings, Curses, Hopes, and Fears

Psycho-Ostensive Expressions in Yiddish

James A. Matisoff

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English

Stanford University Press
01 January 2024

Psycholinguistics; Literary theory

Series: Contraversions: Jews and Other Differences

In this delightful book, the author enumerates and classifies the formulas Yiddish speakers use to express their emotions. It is a rarity among scholarly books, for it brings joy while it teaches; it makes us smile, sometimes roar with laughter, while it develops the most rigorous linguistic argumentation. The author analyzes the many kinds of Yiddish psycho-ostensives ranging from blessings and thanks to lamentations and curses. To a person who mentions something horrible youcan say: Zalts dir in di oygn, fefer dir in noz! (Salt into your eyes, and pepper into your nose!). Or to a child you might tenderly murmur: A gez nt dir in yeder Zyverl! (A health to all your little body-parts!). The author illustrates how these formulas can be used to fulfill social conventions, to keep away evil, to show off or even to deceive the listener.

By: James A. Matisoff
Imprint: Stanford University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 17mm
Weight: 304g
ISBN: 9780804733946
ISBN 10: 0804733945
Series: Contraversions: Jews and Other Differences
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 01 January 2024
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Unspecified

Reviews for Blessings, Curses, Hopes, and Fears: Psycho-Ostensive Expressions in Yiddish

'I have known and profited from this book for many years, and its interest for linguistics and Yiddish studies has grown steadily. The book will have three audiences: specialists in Yiddish; linguists, psychologists, and anthropologists who are interested in the emotional side of language; and general linguists familiar with Matisoff's outstanding contributions, both witty and insightful, in other linguistic fields.' William Labov, University of Pennsylvania