Yiddish across borders: Interviews in the Yiddish ultra-Orthodox Jewish audio mass medium. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Assouline, Dalit; Dori-Hacohen, Gonen
• Is Part Of: Language & communication. Volume 56(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 69
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Hasidic Yiddish -- Accommodation -- Dialect change -- Minority language -- Interviews -- Language ideology; Communication -- Periodicals; Linguistics -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; Linguistics -- Periodicals; Communication -- Périodiques; Linguistique -- Périodiques; Communication; Linguistics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.langcom.2017.04.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-5309

Abstract

Abstract: This study analyzes phone interactions in Yiddish that are broadcast by telephone to ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities through off-hook services called "hotlines". Yiddish, a minority language, is the native tongue of most hotline speakers and marks their communal affiliation within the ultra-Orthodox world. We explore the instrumentalities of one Yiddish hotline in order to ascertain features that facilitate its role as a membering medium for its community. We show how participants use this medium to index who is – and who is not – a community member via language decisions that reflect language ideologies and maintain community boundaries; interviewees index their membership by linguistically accommodating interviewers; and hosts, on occasion, change language to ostracize an interviewee. We also explore the problematic status of Modern Hebrew for this community. Highlights: We study Yiddish interviews broadcast by phone to ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. Yiddish has symbolic value as the unifying language of a Hasidic global community. Language choices in the interviews index who is (and who is not) a community member. Interviews reflect the problematic status of Modern Hebrew for this community.