 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Italian. (December 2023)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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| Judeo-Roman | |
|---|---|
| Giudeo-Romanesco (Italian) ג'ודיו רומן (Hebrew) | |
| Native to | Italy, Israel |
| Ethnicity | Italian Jews |
Native speakers | 200 in Italy 250 in total (2022) |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
Judeo-Roman (Italian:Giudaico-Romanesco/ Giudaico Romanesca) orItalkit is the only still living dialect of theJudeo-Italian languages, historically used by theJews living inRome.[1] It is spoken by 250 people, most of whom live inItaly. The language is on the decline and most of its remaining speakers are elderly.[1] There are efforts to preserve the language and keep it from extinction.[2]
Judeo-Roman, like otherJewish languages, emerged due to theJews of Rome being isolated in theRome Ghetto, on order of thePope.[3] The language declined as Jews were emancipated and Roman Jews switched to theRoman dialect of Italian.
Younger Italian Jews are attempting to preserve the language.[2]
Judeo-Roman has at least 360 Hebrew words and phrases in it. Many of these were used to conceal what the users were saying fromChristians.[2] examples include:
| Judeo-Roman[3] | Root Hebrew Word[3] | English[3] |
|---|---|---|
| Kadosc Baruchù | Kadosh Baruch Hu | Holy blessed be he |
| Caròvve | Karov | Close relative |
| Mangkòdde | Ma’ot | Money |
| Ngesa’vve | ‘Esav | Christian/Christians |
Judeo-Italian has several phonetic shifts that differentiate it from standardItalian; these include:[1]
/e/ becoming/i/ (e.g.detto toditto)
/l/ becoming/r/ (e.g.qualcuno toquarcuno)
It also contains several vowel shifts and other changes:
Loss of initial vowels (e.g.oppure topure)
Loss of final consonants (e.g.con toco')
Contractions (e.g.dir ti toditte)
Archaisms (e.g.di te tod'oo ti)
A theater group calledChaimme 'a sore 'o sediaro e 'a moje (Chaim, the sister, the chairmaker and the wife) makes plays in Judeo-Roman.[4]
There is a collection of poems written byCrescenzo del Monte from 1908 and republished in 2007[1] in Judeo Roman.[5] These works includeThe sonnets of Crescenzo del Monte.
SeveralYouTube videos have been posted in Judeo-Roman.[1]
| Judeo-Roman[1] | English[1] |
|---|---|
| Jorno | Day |
| Capeto | Understood |
| Ar | At the |
| Letigate | Fight |
| Gniente | Nothing |
| Quarcuno | Someone |
| Quarche | Some |
| Aremane | To remain |
| Kadosc Baruchù | Holy blessed be he |
| Judeo-Roman[2] | English |
|---|---|
| Due donne sono sedute vicino alla pasticceria del Portico d’Ottavia, Settimia e Fiorella. Come pretenni che fieto parli bene ancora un ajo capeto, tu e mariteto tutto o jorno, ‘o sento io, che letigate in giudaico Romanesco. te sbai Settì ce stamo attenti, da retta a me, me devi da crede ‘o stamo proprio a fa pe lui, un volemo che viè sù che i ngaciri dicheno che è uno de piazza. | Two women are seated near the pastry shop at the Portico d’Ottavia, [their names are] Settimia and Fiorella How you can pretend that your son speaks well, I still don't understand. You and your husband all day — I heard it myself, that you quarrel in Giudaico-Romanesco. You are mistaken Settì, we are careful. Listen to me, you have to believe me, we are specifically doing it for him. I don't want him to grow up so that the rich [people] say that he is one from the Piazza [the Ghetto]. |