Borns Jewish Studies Program

This course introduces Modern Ladino, the traditional language of Sephardic Jews, in its cultural and historical contexts. Students develop listening, speaking, writing and reading skills. The course examines the Ladino language in both the Latin and Rashi (semi-cursive)alphabet using textbooks as well as primary sources in music, film, literature, newspapers, and more. Conducted in English and Ladino.

Ladino, also called Judeo-Spanish, Judezmo, Spanyolit, and other names, is a Romance language written and spoken by Sephardic Jews (Jews of Spanish and Portuguese background). Judeo-Spanish originated in the Iberian Peninsula and was carried abroad after Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 and Portugal in 1497. Judeo-Spanish is based in an archaic form of Castilian Spanish, but also contains elements of languages such as Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, French, Portuguese, Bulgarian, and Italian. Written and spoken in areas such as Israel, the Balkans, North Africa, Greece, Turkey (and to a lesser extent also in the Americas), today Judeo-Spanish is in danger of extinction, although it is experiencing some kind of revival – and we are taking part in this revival by learning it here in Michigan! Judeo-Spanish is usually written in Hebrew script, but in the 21st century it is more commonly written with the Latin alphabet.

This course is meant for students who have prior knowledge of a Romance language, or completed at least one year of Romance language at the university level. Department permission needed email kmfranks@indiana.edu

Above class offered through the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Instruction provided by participating institution via distance synchronous video. Enrolled students will follow the host institution's calendar in terms of time zone, start and end dates, and breaks and holidays

Above class meets with COLL-C 500