Oy vay! Yiddish!

From time to time I'm asked to explain the difference between North American and British English, as if it could be summarised in a sentence. It can't, of course. However, citing the Yiddish factor goes a long way in that direction. This rich, threatened language is an integral part of the Jewish contribution to North American culture. Yiddish has entwined itself so deeply in the larger community that even those who have never met a Jew express themselves in Yiddish terms. North American English would be much weaker without these earthy expressions.

Yiddish (from the German jüdisch, Jewish) is written in the Hebrew alphabet, and draws mainly on Semitic and Germanic roots. Yiddish pronunciation and grammar resemble German. Nonspeakers notice the guttural edge inherited from both parents. Jewish culture deeply values scholarship, hence Yiddish boasts an impressive literature, including theatre, poetry, prose, and a wide range of criticism and academic works. In fact, Yiddish may be the most scholarly non-national language in the world.

Traditional hearth tongue of Ashkenazic (Northern European) Jews, Yiddish arrived in the New World with nineteenth and early twentieth century immigrants. The newcomers quickly discovered that concepts important to their culture taxed English too heavily. As a stopgap they inserted Yiddish words, or anglicised facsimiles, into English sentences. The words they introduced suggest that character was a central concern in their society.

Here's a selection of Yiddish terms heard daily in the media. A few have even made it into Webster's dictionary. (Note: Some of these words have no standard English spelling, or the English spelling varies from the Yiddish. My respects to those who spell them differently.)

Schnook: A naïve fool
Yutz: A country fool; bumpkin.
Schlemiel: A bungling fool.
Schmoe: An anonymous or random fool.
Schlep: To drag. (From schleppen.) Also, a fool who drags things for others.
Schmuck: A generic fool. (Literally, "the male member.")
Maven: A learned person. ("Mavin" more closely reflects the Yiddish spelling.)
Mensch: A righteous man (Literally, "man.")
Schmaltz: Unctuous sentimentality. (Literally, "chicken fat.")
Kosher: Correct, decent. (Literally, "in accordance with Talmudic law.")
Schtup: To have unkosher sex. (From schtuppen, to whack.)
Goy: Fairly-insulting term for a Gentile (non-Jew). Plural: goyim.
Shikse: A Gentile woman.
Shtik: An entertainer's act. (Literally, "gimmick.")
Schlock: Low-quality or tacky goods.
Chutzpah: A mixture of audacity and self-assurance.
Drek: Nauseating filth.

Endearing Yiddish syntax quirks have also gone continental: "You want maybe he should go naked?" "What do I know from wine?" "Stop with the yelling!" "I don't see for what this is good." Such Yiddishisms make North American English a healthier, more powerful language.

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