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Writers have celebrated the fruitful dialogue between English and Yiddish for decades. In this engrossing lexicon, Gene Bluestein reveals the full extent of that dialogue, introducing "Anglish, or Anglicized Yiddish, in which a Yiddish word is integrated into English usage, as in 'shmo'and 'shmoozing'; and Yinglish, or Yiddishized English, in which an English word is integrated into Yiddish usage, as in 'allrightnik,' or the expression 'a Heifitz he isn't.'" Bluestein's insights into and examples of countless Yiddish expressions that have made their way into American English are fascinating and delightful. They vividly remind us of the multiculturalism of the American language and of the nation itself.
The lexicon can be read selectively, like a dictionary, or straight through, as an informative and entertaining romp through a sumptuous linguistic tradition. Everywhere are the words of some of America's most distinctive voices—Saul Bellow, Cynthia Ozick, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Grace Paley, Philip Roth, Joseph Heller, and countless others. This greatly expanded and updated second edition of Anglish/Yinglish is a splendid guide to the ways Yiddish has permeated and transformed the American language.
| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Danny Baldwin
reviewed Anglish Yinglish: Yiddish in American Life and Literature on May 05, 2015 Anglish Yinglish: Yiddish in American Life and Literature
I really wanted to like this book and like the curate's egg, it was good in parts. Wex tells us early on that Yiddish is the language of complaint and sets out to prove that statement the entire rest of the book. The book is very scholarly and much of it is of interest but still, towards the end I was so depressed it was a struggle to finish it. Yiddish may be the language of complaint but its complaints turned humorous in possibly the most onomatopoeic language in the world. (Does schmuck sound anything but a stupid person? Does a schloff not sound like the nap you need after too big a lunch?)
Jewish humour is a very strong strand in the humour of the US. Where the prevailing paradigm is to be on the side of the winner, always to have great self-esteem and to look good in the eyes of the world, the humour is the opposite: the small man who triumphs despite the odds. Two of the most well-known proponents of this are Woody Allen and Mel Brooks and where would they be without their joyous use of Yiddish? Indeed where would New Yorkers be if all the yiddish words were taken from their slang?
The book would be best enjoyed by dipping into it now and again, no point in being heroic and finishing it straight through. A good book, a worthy book, but enjoyable - hmmmm?
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Add Anglish Yinglish: Yiddish in American Life and Literature, Writers have celebrated the fruitful dialogue between English and Yiddish for decades. In this engrossing lexicon, Gene Bluestein reveals the full extent of that dialogue, introducing Anglish, or Anglicized Yiddish, in which a Yiddish word is integrated , Anglish Yinglish: Yiddish in American Life and Literature to the inventory that you are selling on WonderClubX
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Add Anglish Yinglish: Yiddish in American Life and Literature, Writers have celebrated the fruitful dialogue between English and Yiddish for decades. In this engrossing lexicon, Gene Bluestein reveals the full extent of that dialogue, introducing Anglish, or Anglicized Yiddish, in which a Yiddish word is integrated , Anglish Yinglish: Yiddish in American Life and Literature to your collection on WonderClub |