Blessings, Curses, Hopes, and Fears: Psycho-Ostensive Expressions in Yiddish

by James A. Matisoff and James A. Mattisoff

Book Overview

In this delightful book, the author enumerates and classifies the formulas Yiddish speakers use to express their emotions. It is a rarity among scholarly books, for it brings joy while it teaches; it makes us smile, sometimes roar with laughter, while it develops the most rigorous linguistic argumentation. The author analyzes the many kinds of Yiddish "psycho-ostensives"--ranging from blessings and thanks to lamentations and curses. To a person...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804733945
• ISBN13: 9780804733946
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Stanford University Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"