מענדעלע

First, they should be aware of the fact that there's a variety of Middle High German that was spoken by Jews in the Middle Ages and that many consider distinct from Old Yiddish and that this variety is called 'Judeo-German'.

Second, why don't they do the simple (not to mention p.c.) thing and ask some Welsh Jews what they call it? In case they don't know of any, my handy-dandy Jewish Travel Guide (Jewish Chronicle - London) lists a number of synagogues and other institutions. No listing for Aberystwyth, but here are some likely prospects in Cardiff:

Cardiff United Synagogue (Orthodox), Brandreth Rd., Penylan, CF2 5XX. Sec.: Mrs. S.C. Glavin. Tel. 0222 473728.

Mikva, Wales Empire Pool Bldg, Wood St., CF1 1PP. Tel. 0222 382296.

Cardiff Jewish Representative Council. Sec. Mrs. M. Cantor, 6 Hollybush Rd., Cyncoed CF2 6TA. Tel. 0222 756217.

Home for the Aged. Penylan House. Penlyan Rd., CF2 5YG. Tel. 0222 485327.

Jewish Board of Guardians. Hon. Sec.: Mrs. A. Schwartz, 5 Woodvale Av., Cyncoed, CF2 6SP. Tel. 0222 753361.

Hope this helps.

Ellen Prince

In the languages of countries where the majority of Yiddish speakers once lived Yiddish is known as Jewish language (_evreiskii iazyk_ in Russian, _evreis'ka mova_ in Ukrainian, _jezyk zydowski_ in Polish). Word "Yiddish" exists in these languages (idish, idysh, and jidysz) but is used sparingly. So, Welsh may do well with its current _iddeweg_.

For the discussion on name for Yiddish in other languages and on use of "Jewish language" in English see Mendele 3.245:3, 3.247:4, 3.249:1-2, 3.250:3, 3.251:1-2, 3.254:1.

Iosif Vaisman

With reference to Bernard S. Greenberg's comment (6.095,4) about his father's rufnomen (first name) that was, for a long time, Boomie (from Vroomie, Avrohom):

My speculation is that "Boomie" very likely came about when a younger child in the family, referring to the older one called "Vroomie," could not pronounce the conjoined consonants /Vr/ and, instead, used the much easier and developmentally earlier /B/, thus Boomie.

It is also possibe that, for the same reasons stated above, the child _himself_, in his pre-egocentric "I" stage when he refers to himself in the third person by name -- as he is called in the family -- spoke of himself as Boomie. ["Boomie wants milk."]

I remember a family in old Vilne, with six children. The oldest daughter was called Freydke, diminutive of Freyde. When the youngest child, in the initial phases of her speech, could not pronounce Freydke, due to her inability to "bridge" the consonantal /Fr-/ sound, she called the oldest one "Kheytke" instead. Note also the shift from /d/ in Freydke to /t/ in Kheytke

Everyone in the family found it cute, and, in turn, all the family members also started to use the name Kheytke, instead of Freydke.

The mispronounced name thus became enshrined, so to speak, in the family's nomenclature, as a kind of unexpected "deference" to the mizinke's [youngest] baby talk.

Thus, a _rufnomen_ is not infrequently changed in strange ways that only phoneticians can explain.

Zellig Bach Lakehurst, NJ

The Jewish Film Festival in Melbourne tonight showed a French/Yiddish Film called Madame Jaques sur La Croisette, which contained a wonderful, slightly risque song "Arayn un Aroys" sung by Dave Cash and I think released by "Osi Disque". No one that I have spoken to here knows the song, singer or record company and they are probably not available here. Could anyone provide me with the words and/or the music? By the way, the film is sensationally realistic and funny and should be seen!

Doodie Ringelblum

On the part of all the people in our Bialik Yiddish class, I would like to thank all the members of the mendele group that have responded to our letter. We have gotten more than enough responces, and are very happy about the results.

Thank you again.

Eitan Lallouz

To those good friends who expressed interest in life in the Warsaw ghetto, I would recommend _In the Days of Destruction and Revolt_ by Zivia Lubetkin who survived the destruction of the ghetto and incredible as it seems actually was able to reach Israel where she lectured and wrote her book . Many episodes will be familiar but it is a book you will not want to put down until you have completed it.

From the Central Conference of American Rabbis (192 Lexington Ave,New York, N.Y. 10016-6823) you can receive a small catalog of wonderful children's books, send for them today....chanukah is coming. And finally, several mendelayers have asked about favorite or interesting curses and my best source is _In Praise of Yiddish_ by Maurice Samuel. I refer to this gem of a book frequestly, and so will you!

Mit gezundt un guten leyenen,

Cherna Berliner Wolpin

Gevald! Ratevet! It's that time of year again. M'harget zikh shoyn nokh amol in mayn vinkl un oykh ikh mit mayn vegn dem oysleg fun khanuke.

Freg ikh:

1. If YIVO distributed a khanuke card, how would it be spelled? 2. Would the spelling be the same for an all English word card (I wish you a happy khanuke {Webster has it Chanukah, also Hanukkah}) and for a Yiddish transliterated card (Ikh vintsh aykh a freylekhn...). 3. Other than the sound equivalents listed on p xxi in Weinreich, where do I find the YIVO rules for transliteration?

Are names transliterated? For example: I see Sholem Aleichem, not Sholem Aleykhem in scholarly works. Mikhl Herzog on Mendele wrote Hasid, not khosid. Chana Mlotek does not write her name as Khana.

A dank un a freylekhn Festival of Lights,

Marjorie Schonhaut and Bob Hirshan Boynton Beach, Florida