Hebrew and Yiddish in Canada: A Linguistic Transition Completed

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
Hebrew and Yiddish in Canada: A Linguistic Transition Completed
Abstract
Basing his analysis mostly on Census data regarding “nonofficial” languages in Canada, the author demonstrates the numerical rise of Hebrew across Canada, while speakers of Yiddish continue to become fewer. Thus, he points out, the normal “Jewish language” among Canadian Jews is now Hebrew, not Yiddish — which would have seemed incredible one generation ago. This transformation was already visible during the 1990's, but Census results from 2001 and 2006 fully confirm the demographic reversal between the two tongues. The author argues that these facts are based on Jewish Day school practices, rather than on migration. Most of Canada's Hebrew speakers are "homegrown", i.e. Canadian-born Anglophone Jews, not transplanted Israelis. Hebrew is strongest in and around Toronto, but has some adherents in other major Canadian communities. Yiddish has morphed into the Hassidic sub-community language, concentrated in and around greater Montreal. Ultraorthodox children in Canada are still learning and speaking Yiddish as their mother tongue, but almost none outside of greater Montreal.
Publication
Canadian Jewish Studies / Études juives canadiennes
Volume
Vol. 18-19
Date
2010-2011
Language
en
URL
Citation
Davids, Leo. “Hebrew and Yiddish in Canada: A Linguistic Transition Completed.” Canadian Jewish Studies / Études juives canadiennes Vol. 18-19 (2011 2010). http://cjs.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/cjs/article/view/36138/32779.
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