Judaeo-Portuguese

Last updated
Judaeo-Portuguese
Judeu-Português
יהודי-פורטוגזית
Native to Portugal, Netherlands, Germany (Hamburg), England, North America, Brazil
Extinct estimated early 19th century[ citation needed ]
fewer than 2,000 users in a limited liturgical context
Early forms
Dialects
  • Peninsular Judeo-Portuguese
  • Emigre Judeo-Portuguese
Latin (Portuguese alphabet), Hebrew alphabet, Arabic script, Syriac alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Glottolog None

Judaeo-Portuguese, Jewish-Portuguese or Judaeo-Lusitanic, is an extinct Jewish language or a dialect of Galician-Portuguese written in the Hebrew alphabet that was used by the Jews of Portugal. [1]

Contents

Description

It was the vernacular of Sephardi Jews in Portugal before the 16th century and also in many places of the Portuguese Jewish diaspora. Its texts were written in the Hebrew script ( aljamiado português ) or the Latin alphabet. [2]

As Portuguese Jews intermarried with other expelled Sephardim, the language influenced the nearby Judeo-Spanish. Close similarity to Standard Portuguese made Judeo-Portuguese go extinct in Portugal, [1] Judeo-Portuguese influenced the Papiamento and Saramaccan languages.

History

The earliest known text containing Judeo-Portuguese text is a manuscript from 1262 about illuminating manuscripts called O livro de como se fazem as cores. [3] [ self-published source ] After the Jewish exodus from Portugal in 1497 many Portuguese Jews would flee to the Dutch Republic and Judeo-Portuguese would intake a lot of Dutch influence. [4] This same exodus would cause the language to spread to the Turkish Jewish community. [4] It would go extinct in the early 19th century, though since then has only been used liturgically. [3] [ self-published source ]

Literature

The oldest text containing Judeo-Portuguese is a manuscript from 1262 about illuminating manuscripts called O livro de como se fazem as cores. [3] During the 15th century several texts including one about medical astrology and a prayer book. [4] Even until today is it still used liturgically but only by a very small number of people. [3]

Decline

The decline of Judeo-Portuguese would begin with the introduction of public schooling. Eventually declining to home use before finally only being used liturgically. [4]

Characteristics

There existed several dialects of Judeo-Portuguese divided into 2 categories referred to as Peninsular Judeo-Portuguese and Emigre Judeo-Portuguese, though the differences between them are unclear. [4]

Portuguese archaisms

Judaeo-PortugueseModern PortugueseEnglish meaning
algũa/אלגומהalgumaany
angora/אנגורהاagoranow
dous/דוסdoistwo
hũa/הואumaa, an, one

Influences from Hebrew

Judeo-PortugueseHebrewEnglish meaning
קדוש/kadošקדוש/kadoshholy
ישיבה/ješivaישיבה/yeshivaReligious School
מַצָּה‬/macáמַצָּה‬/matzahritual bread
מִצְוָה‬/micváמִצְוָה‬/mitzvahcommandments
ראש/rošראש/roshhead
ראשים/rašimראשים/rashimheads
ראש השנה/roš hašanáראש השנה/rosh hashanahJewish New Year
שבת/šabáשבת/ShabbatSaturday
צדקה/cedakáצדקה/tzedakahcharity
קְהִלָה/kejláקְהִלָה/qehilacongregation
קידוש/kidušקידוש/kiddushblessing over the wine
טבה/teváטבה/tevahcentral platform in the synagogue

Influences from Judaeo-Spanish/Ladino

Judaeo-PortuguesePortugueseJudaeo-Spanish (Ladino)English meaning
ajaythere is
DioDeus (arch. Deo)DioGod
manimmãosmanoshands

Influences from Greek

Judeo-PortugueseGreekEnglish meaning
esnogaσυναγωγη/synagogēsynagogue

Influence on other languages

Judeo-Portuguese has influenced several languages. These include Balkan dialects of Ladino, and Portuguese. [5]

Sample text

Judeo PortugueseJudeo Portuguese (transliterated)English
או ליברו די מג׳יקהO Livro De MagicaThe Book of Magic
N/AA todos nossos Irmãos, prezos pela InquisiçãoTo all our brethren confined by the Inquistion

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Significado de judeo-português". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  2. Silva, Luiz Antônio da (org.) (2005). A língua que falamos: português, história, variação e discurso. Rio de Janeiro: Globo. p. 212.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Toledo, Selin (2018-10-27). "Ladino's Lost Sibling". Medium. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Judeo-Portuguese". Jewish Languages. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  5. Jewish and Non-Jewish Creators of "Jewish" Languages. Wiesbaden. 2006. p. 466. ISBN   3-447-05404-2.