Mixed Translation Patterns
The Ladino Translation of Biblical and Mishnaic Hebrew Verbs
Published online: 1 January 1993
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.5.1.06sch
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.5.1.06sch
Abstract
The present study is a linguistic analysis of the translations of some Biblical and Mishnaic verb forms into Ladino in Pirke Avot 'Ethics of the Fathers'. The liturgical Hebrew text includes both language layers, Biblical and Mishnaic. It is read by Sephardic Jewry from Passover to Pentecost a chapter a week, and has been translated into Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish calque-type language, in a variety of places since 1552. The article focuses on the morphological aspects of the translations. The results show that whereas Ladino translators opted for literal translations of the Biblical verses, they adopted freer renditions of the less sacred Mishnaic text. The differences stem from the difference in attitudes towards the sanctity of the two linguistic layers.
Résumé
Cet article compare les traductions en ladino, dans les Maximes des Anciens, de formes verbales hébraïques de la Bible et de la Michna. Les juifs sépharades ont l'habitude de lire ces Maximes entre Pâques (Pessah) et la Pentecôte (Chavouot), à raison d'un chapitre par semaine. Depuis 1552, le texte liturgique a été traduit en ladino (judéo-espagnol calqué) dans différentes régions. L'article se concentre sur les aspects morphologiques des traductions, et montre que les versets bibliques sont rendus de manière plus littérale que le texte michnaïque moins sacré. De plus, en comparant les différentes versions, on remarque que les verbes du texte michnaïque ont été traduits avec plus de diversité que ceux du texte biblique. La différence semble provenir de l'attitude du traducteur face à la sainteté du texte.
Article outline
- Introduction: Pirke Avot and Its Ladino Translation
- 1.Ladino Translations
- 2.The Hebrew-Ladino Verb Systems Compared
- 2.1.Hebrew Verb Forms
- 2.2.The Ladino Verb System
- 3.Expected Replacements
- 4.The Findings
- 4.1.Pā'al
- 4.2.Yip'al
- 4.3.Po'el
- 5.Discussion
- Notes
References
References (12)
Bendavid, Abba. 1967/1971. Lěšon hamiqra ulšon ḥaḵamim [Biblical Hebrew and Mishnaic Hebrew]. 1–2. Tel Aviv: Dvir. [in Hebrew]
Bull, William Emerson. 1960. Time, Tense and the Verb: A Study in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, with Particular Attention to Spanish. Berkeley: The University of California.
Kahane, Henry R. and Sol Saporta. 1953. “The Verbal Categories of Judeo-Spanish”. Hispanic Review 211. 193–214, 322–326.
Kutscher, Eduard Yechezkel. 1982. A History of the Hebrew Language. Jerusalem and Leiden: Magnes and Brill.
Revah, Israel S. 1970. “Hispanisme et judaïsme des langues parlées et écrites par les Sefardim”. Iacob M. Hassan, ed. Actas del primer Simposio de Estudios Sefardies. Madrid: Instituto Arias Montano, 1970. 233–241.
Schwarzwald (Rodrigue), Ora. 1989. Targumey haladino lefirke Avot [The Ladino Translations of Pirke Avot]. Jerusalem: Magnes. [Eda vélašon, 13.] [in Hebrew.]
. in press a. “Ma beyn targumey haladino befirke avot uvhagadot hasfaradim”. [The Differences between the Ladino Translations of Pirke Avot and the Sephardic Haggadot]. Proceedings of the Third International Congress for the Study of Sefardic and Oriental Jewry. Jerusalem: Misgav Yerushalayim. [in Hebrew.]
. in press b. “Venice 1601–1609 Ladino Translations of Pirke Aboth and the Haggada”. Glasgow Colloquium Papers 31.
Cited by (2)
Cited by two other publications
AGİŞ, Fazıla Derya
[no author supplied]
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 4 december 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
