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Chaim M. Weiser

Frumspeak: The First Dictionary of Yeshivish Hardcover – August 1, 1995

by Chaim M. Weiser (Author)

18 ratings

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Frumspeak examines the unique linguistic habits of Orthodox, native-born Americans. This book seeks to draw comparisons with parallel phenomena of Jewish linguistic creation including Yiddish and Ladino and reaches into the linguistic consciousness of the American Orthodox community to reveal how that community thinks, communicates, and educates.

The Jewish religion molds the character of this community and determines how it works, builds a home life, celebrates, and educates children. By focusing on Jewish education, the community fosters an intimacy with the classic primary texts of Judaism. These texts are replete with memorable linguistic formulations, vivid imagery, and technical terminology, all of which govern the ways in which Orthodox Jews face the challenges of daily life.

Orthodox children often gain academic exposure to sophisticated concepts years before they have to undertake the responsibilities of adulthood. With each new encounter a reference to rabbinic literature is drawn upon, and the classical terms become associated with tangible experience. The result is the English, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Yiddish amalgam that this book terms Yeshivish.

Yeshivish grows increasingly prevalent as the American Orthodox community continues to grow into a strong, organized body responsible for its own education and welfare. Frumspeak examines the origins of Yeshivish and attempts to determine its place in religious and linguistic thought.

As a dictionary, Frumspeak provides definitions for Yeshivish words and suggests an English equivalent for each. Every entry traces the etymology of the original word to the point at which the word enters the language. All definitions include a sentence drawn from actual experience, to exemplify each meaning and to distinguish it from others.

Print length

108 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Jason Aronson, Inc.
Publication date

August 1, 1995
Dimensions

6.39 x 0.63 x 9.56 inches
ISBN-10

1568216149
ISBN-13

978-1568216140
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chaim Weiser teaches high-school English in a major American yeshiva. He is a specialist in translation and has written several articles on the challenges of translation and on educational theory. Weiser is the author of A Silent, Invisible Language: An Exploration of Written English and is a consultant to the Translation division of Abell Communication of Antwerp, Belgium. He received his education in yeshivas in America and abroad and holds degrees in education and linguistics from American University in Washington, D.C. He lives with his wife, Tamar, near the yeshiva where he teaches.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jason Aronson, Inc.; F First Edition (August 1, 1995)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 108 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1568216149
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1568216140
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.39 x 0.63 x 9.56 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #211 in Slang & Idiom Reference Books
- #2,531 in Linguistics Reference
- #2,712 in Foreign Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Customer Reviews:
18 ratings

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Book Addict

Loved it.

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

This is not frumspeak, but Yeshivish, which I think of as high Yinglish. There is a language developing in America, which in 50 years may be a separate language, like Yiddish.
My favorite example is "My daughter's morah just became a kallah". For those not fluent, translating the extra words, it's My daughter's teacher just became a brid.
What I said in reality is my daughter's religious teacher just got engaged. And I care because I probably will be going to the wedding . That's a language developing.
Here's another one. What are you doing for Pesach? Or where are you up to? ( At this time of year) That assumes a whole culture

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Jonathan Mack

Absolutely amazing book. Overpriced, but honestly, pretty worth it for the shtick.

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

Way overpriced, the book is pretty thin. Other than that, quite possibly the funniest thing I have read in a while. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in a yeshiva or in the frum world will enjoy. The beginning has a some translations of various classic texts (The Pledge of Allegiance, the Gettysburg Address etc.) into "yeshivish" which is hilarious. A good conversation starter and great shtick.

One person found this helpful

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DogCareGiver&Cat&BirdToo

A Bit Incomplète but Many Good Definitions

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

An interesting adjunct text to Leo Rosten’s “The Joys of Yiddish”. Find, if you can a Brittannica Atlas or other auxiliary map and index text with tabbed foreign language dictionaries.... Yiddish was included!

2 people found this helpful

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Yenta Vegan

The vocabulary you need

Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2020

Verified Purchase

Great book for grasping the nuance missed from my Rabbis Shirum

One person found this helpful

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David Lichtenthal

frumspeak dictionary of yeshivish

Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2007

Verified Purchase

Like the opener about languages - unexpected but very good reading about how languages evolved and, "yeshivsh" in particular emerged - some words missing in the lexicon, but I guess that is always the case in books like this one. The part really missing is the vowels in the hebrew. The transliteration helps though. If you are a baal teshvua, this book may help you navigate shiurim, chevrusas and, shul life. You can run home and, look up the words you did not know that everyone else did know and, in the privacy of your own embarrassment. :)

8 people found this helpful

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Blasater

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

I would like to see an updated version with more words, still a very good resource though.

2 people found this helpful

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Geraldyne Penn

Kudos!

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017

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Fascinating insight into the world of American born, English-speaking yeshivah high school students. The author's scholarship, attention to detail, and seriousness of purpose are apparent throughout the book.

4 people found this helpful

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Rose

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

A great and unique book.

3 people found this helpful

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