Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T11:16:49.785Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Current trends in the secularization of Hebrew1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Hadassa Kantor
Affiliation:
Department of Hebrew and Semitic Languages, Bar-Ilan University, 52 900 Ramat-Gan, Israel

Abstract

Secularization has played a significant role in the revival of Hebrew. Use of words and phrases from the religious domain in secular contexts, so natural to the native Israeli, may at times shock students who have studied Hebrew outside Israel, especially those trained in Jewish day schools. The growing secularization of Israeli life-style and the increasing influence of foreign languages, as manifested in the local media, indeed have given rise to new forms of language secularization. These have split modern Hebrew into two varieties: on the one hand, a language clinging to its historical roots, spoken and understood by observant Jews in Israel and studied abroad in religious day schools, and on the other hand, a secularized variety, separated from its ancient culture, adopted by many circles of Israeli Hebrew speakers. (Semantic change, language varieties, Hebrew)

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Avineri, Y. (1946). Kibuš ha'ivrit bedorenu [Conquests of Hebrew in our generation]. Tel Aviv: Sifriat Ha-Poalim.Google Scholar
Gleason, H. A. (1965). Introduction to descriptive linguistics. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston.Google Scholar
Kadari, M. Z. (1961). ’Al haxilun balašon [On secularization in language]. De'ot Summer: 4145.Google Scholar
Kadari, M. Z. (1968). Mirušat yemei habenayim [Heritage of the Middle Ages]. Tel Aviv: Dvir.Google Scholar
Kutscher, E. Y. (1982). A history of the Hebrew language. Jerusalem: Magnes.Google Scholar
Leech, G. (1974). Semantics. Middlesex: Penguin.Google Scholar
Peretz, Y. (1975). ‘Ivrit kahalaxa [Proper Hebrew]. Tel Aviv: Sreberk.Google Scholar
Rabi, Y. (1977). Sixot al ‘ivrit [Talks on Hebrew]. Tel Aviv: Sifriat Ha-Poalim.Google Scholar
The Reader's Digest great encyclopedic dictionary. (1966). Pleasantville: The Reader's Digest Association.Google Scholar
Sarfatti, G. B. (1978). Semantika ‘ivrit [Hebrew semantics]. Jerusalem: Rubinstein.Google Scholar
Sivan, R. (1974). Leksikon lešipur halašon [Better Hebrew usage]. Tel Aviv: Karni.Google Scholar
Ullman, S. (1963). The principles of semantics. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.Google Scholar
Ullman, S. (1966). Language and style. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.Google Scholar