Book Condition: Very Good in Good DJ, with 4 inch tear at top front of DJ and evidence of shelf wear on corners. Slight tropical speckling to Page Edges, otherwise, clean, clear text in tightly bound volume. No internal inscriptions, markings or stains. Bibliography note: Bibliography: p. 134-140. Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches. Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces Don’t be put off by the subtitle of this incredibly witty, informative, and entertaining analysis of the linguistic subtleties of Yiddish. In using the term psycho-ostensive,” the author refers to the heavy emotional baggage that Yiddish speakers carry around with them: their language is full of linguistic subtexts that mask, obfuscate, and hide the true feelings in the heart of the speaker.”Arnold Ages, Jewish Tribune. It may be said of Matisoff’s treatise that it shows how Yiddish, through its linguistic delicacies, offered its speakers and listeners valuable therapeutic tools to cope with the perplexing world they encountered. Exploring that wolrd with Matisoff is a recreation, a joy, and a gan Eden.” That’s Hebrew and Yiddish for paradise.”Arnold Ages, Jewish TribunE. 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 who mentions something horrible you can say: Zalts dir in di oygn, fefer dir in noz! ("Salt into your eyes, and pepper into your nose!"). Or to a child you might tenderly murmur: A gezúnt dir in yeder éyverl! ("A health to all your little body-parts!"). The author illustrates how these formulas can be used to fulfill social conventions, to keep away evil, to show off—or even to deceive the listener.
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