Klezmer-loshn (קלעזמער-לשוןklezmer-loshn,Yiddish forMusician's Tongue) is an extinct derivative of the Yiddish language. It was a kind ofargot, orcant used by travellingJewish musicians, known asklezmorim (klezmers), inEastern Europe prior to the 20th century.[1][2]
It combined Yiddish withloanwords from many other European languages. This borrowed vocabulary was often substituted for key Yiddish words usingrhyme or some other form of association. Many of the words were not derived from either Yiddish or Slavic languages, but original coinages.
As with other argots, such as thieves' languages, Klezmer-loshn evolved to fill the need of members of a bounded community to speak in the presence of others without being understood. Klezmorim could speak Klezmer-loshn during and after performances, whether amongGentiles or Yiddish-speakingJews, without being understood. This allowed them to discuss business, plan, and even mock others without getting into trouble.
Its active use gradually dwindled in the 20th century, and disappeared along with the klezmer trade in Eastern Europe, especially afterthe Holocaust obliterated much of the Jewish population there.[citation needed]
The most detailed glossary of klezmer-loshn of over 600 words can be found inThe Book of Klezmer: The History, The Music, The Folklore from the 14th Century to the 21st (A Capella Books, 2002, authorYale Strom).