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You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Italian. (December 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Content in this edit is translated from the existing Italian Wikipedia article at [[:it:Giudaico romanesco]]; see its history for attribution. {{Translated|it|Giudaico romanesco}} to the talk page. |
Judeo-Roman | |
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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) or Italkit is the only still living dialect of the Judeo-Italian languages, historically used by the Jews living in Rome.[1] It is spoken by 250 people, most of whom live in Italy. 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 other Jewish languages, emerged due to the Jews of Rome being isolated in the Rome Ghetto, on order of the Pope.[3] The language declined as Jews were emancipated and Roman Jews switched to the Roman 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 from Christians.[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 letter shifts that differentiate it from standard Italian these include:[1]
/e/ becoming /i/ (e.g. dettotoditto)
/l/ becoming /r/ (e.g. qualcunotoquarcuno)
It also contains several vowel shifts and other changes:
Loss of initial vowels (e.g. oppuretopure)
Loss of final consonants (e.g. contoco')
Contractions (e.g. dir titoditte)
Archaisms (e.g. di tetod'oo ti)
A theater group called Chaimme '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 by Crescenzo del Monte from 1908 and republished in 2007[1] in Judeo Roman.[5] These works include The sonnets of Crescenzo del Monte.
Several Youtube videos have been posted in Judeo-Roman.[1]
Judeo-Roman[1] | English[1] |
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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 |
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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]. |