Use of Hebrew, Yiddish, etc in this Forum

[Steve Petersen]

When you use Hebrew or Yiddish or other cultural words whose meaning may be lost on visitors/newbies and even some long-timers here, could you please define those word upon first use in a thread?

Thanks. No secret handshakes and passwords. This isn't a speak-easy establishment.

 

[debi b]

That is a very good reminder I can be very guilty of this and it is easy to forget that words we use so often are not known to others. For my part it is simply an oversight and nothing else is intended by it

 

[theguitardood]

בסדר (ok)

 

[simchat_torah]

I always think it funny when someone wants to use Hebrew words (especially incorrectly) to "feel more Jewish".

For example, I have seen posts where someone says: Mitzvahs, Shabbats, Talmidims, etc.

I think it is fine and dandy to use something of particular value, especially when an English variant is lacking. But to color your posts with Hebrewisms just because is oftne seen as silly by outsiders (non-Hewbrew-speaking-christians and Hebrew-speaking-Jews alike).

 

[ChavaK]

When you use Hebrew or Yiddish or other cultural words whose meaning may be lost on visitors/newbies and even some long-timers here, could you please define those word upon first use in a thread?

I guess I always thought it would be condescending
to define terminology I though people here would
know...didn't consider the newbies though...
I will try to remember to do it. But not being in the
habit of it, someone may need to remind me....

 

[ChazakEmunah]

When you use Hebrew or Yiddish or other cultural words whose meaning may be lost on visitors/newbies and even some long-timers here, could you please define those word upon first use in a thread?

Thanks. No secret handshakes and passwords. This isn't a speak-easy establishment.

I had backed off from using Hebrew initially, but then I was encouraged to use it more, so I do. I can always go back to using English if that's easier on everyone.

 

[GeratTzedek]

Most MJ forums post a kind of glossary for newbies. I thought I remembered that being discussed here. Maybe I was remembering somewhere else.

People are not exactly helpless. You double click the word, copy, open a new window or tab, and paste it with "definition" into google.

 

[Yehoshua]

I think we should we should go back to paleo-hebrew characters, with more authentic pronunciation (eyn's, begadkefat's, and so forth). I'm being facetious in case anybody angrily retorts. I really do loving hearing (in my opionion) Hebrew closer to the Biblical style such as the Mizrahi or Sephardic. I found Hebrew easier after learning the Arabic Aleph-bet. www.maran1.com has some good audio/video files although I can barely understand (even after several years of college level modern).

 

[TheRabbi]

Rav Ovadia speaks regular Sephardi hebrew which is no more biblical or correct than Ashkenazi. The Sephardim don't know the difference between a patach and kamatz and they have no difference in a Tav without a Dagesh.

 

[Yehoshua]

Does anyone actually pronounce the ghrimel (not gimel) or thaled (daled) or thaf (tav)? It really bothers me that there isn't an emphasis in a proper ayin pronounciation either, or waw. My teacher who was born in Israel also taught the Koran in Arabic at the Hebrew university and can do those pronounciations pretty well.

 

[TheRabbi]

Yemenite Jews pronounce all these sounds and like Ashkenazim, they pronounce patach and kamatz differently.

Example:
Standard pronunciation: Atah
Askenazi and Yemeni pronunciation: Atoh

I'm not convinced that the waw was ever used in Hebrew.

 

[TheRabbi]

Vus? It's mamesh a shandah not to schmooze in der mama loshen. Now I gotta talk this fershtinkiner English like some kinda sheigetz?

 

[zaksmummy]

I for one would be very grateful if you could give an english equivalent word, as I dont have a clue when it comes to the Hebrew. Some times I read the posts and think, if I just knew that word, I'd know what the are talking about!! (Never thought about posting it into Google)

Thanks to all in advance

Catrin xx

 

[GeratTzedek]

Vus? It's mamesh a shandah not to schmooze in der mama loshen. Now I gotta talk this fershtinkiner English like some kinda sheigetz?

LOL!

 

[GeratTzedek]

I for one would be very grateful if you could give an english equivalent word, as I dont have a clue when it comes to the Hebrew. Some times I read the posts and think, if I just knew that word, I'd know what the are talking about!! (Never thought about posting it into Google)

Thanks to all in advance

Catrin xx

Even in the Chabad forum, they ask that people try to include translations in parenthesis.

 

[debi b]

Have you ever read any government documents? Take for example something from The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Everytime they use something in a document they define it first. When things are addressed to a wide audience it is different than talking to someone who is close to you

 

[cyberlizard]

or maybe we should just set up a sticky word list!

short and simple solution that will no doubt be long and complicated.


Steve

p.s. greetings to all

 

[Steve Petersen]

or maybe we should just set up a sticky word list!

short and simple solution that will no doubt be long and complicated.


Steve

p.s. greetings to all

I think that would be too much jumping around. Better if you don't have to leave a thread to get a definition. Just my take.

 

[ChazakEmunah]

I think that would be too much jumping around. Better if you don't have to leave a thread to get a definition. Just my take.

There's always Google.

 

[cyberlizard]

whatever is chosen, it needs to be simple and consistent and we all need to adopt it, not just some.

how about someone setting up a poll to discuss the subject properly.

Steve