Conferenses about jewish languages and literature in Harvard University: "Global Languages, Local Culture"

The American Comparative Literature Association’s 2009 Annual Meeting will take place at Harvard University on March 26-29, 2009 (Thursday evening through Sunday noon).

Organizers: Marc Shell (Harvard U), Debra Caplan (Harvard U), and Isabelle Levy (Harvard U)

Co-sponsored by the Lily Center for Jewish Languages at Harvard University

Seminars are being posted daily. Please check back regularly for panel information. We appreciate your patience during this process.

Conference Theme

Our theme for 2009 is «Global Languages, Local Cultures.» From the early spreading of languages such as Greek, Chinese, Latin, and Arabic across broad regions to the present age of globalization, local literary cultures have long had to interact with hegemonic languages and literatures of foreign origin.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Please note that ALL sessions will be held in Boylston Hall, Room 105

SEMINAR I: March 27

8:30 – 10:30:
Session 1. (Re)Defining Jewish Languages and Literatures
Chair: Debra Caplan, Harvard University

Marc Shell, Harvard University
“What Was Moses’ Language?”

Hana Wirth-Nesher, Tel Aviv University
“The Hebrew Alphabet and Jewish Belles Lettres”

Sunny Yudkoff, Harvard University
Yidishe un ‘Dzhuishdike’ Bikher”: A Critical Reading of Yankev
Glatshteyn’s Theory of Yiddish and Jewish Literature

10:30 – 11:00 – Coffee Break

11:00 – 1:00:
Session 2. Approaches to the Study of Jewish Languages
Chair: Isabelle Levy, Harvard University

Barbara Harshav, Yale University
“Special Problems of Translating ‘Jewish’ Languages”

Gloria Ascher, Tufts University
“Translating Alfred Ascher’s ‘Diario’: The Challenges of a
Quintessential Judeo-Spanish Literary Text”

George Jochnowitz, CUNY Staten Island, Professor Emeritus
“Wrestling with God: Religion and Taboo in Jewish Languages”

Heidi Lerner, Stanford University
“New Tools for Jewish Language and Linguistics Research”

1:00 – 2:00 PM: Introductory session with Marc Shell and kosher lunch

March 28

Shabbat Break
SEMINAR II: March 29

8:30 AM – 10:30 AM:
Session 1. Crossing Borders: Jewish Languages in a Global Context
Chair: Marc Shell, Harvard University

Heidy Margrit Müller, University of Brussels
“Language and Identity in Novels Written by Iraqi-Jewish Writers in Diaspora”

Debra Caplan, Harvard University
“‘A Song of Triumph’: Language Contact and Conflict in the Yiddish Opera”

Derya Agis, Yeditepe University
“Ways of Addressing Different Characters in Judeo-Spanish Djoha, or Hodja Anecdotes: Language Contact and Language Change in Linguistic Humor”

Vitaly Shalem, Tel Aviv University
“Local Culture in a Global World: A Case of Juhuri-Russian Bilingualism”

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Session 2. Case Studies in Jewish Languages
Chair: Marc Shell, Harvard University

Isabelle Levy, Harvard University
“What is the Language of Immanuel of Rome’s Hebrew Sonnets?”

Dalia Yasharpour, Harvard University
“Textual Analysis of Judeo-Persian found in the Haggadah of the Kaifeng Community of China”

Sonia Gollance, University of Chicago
“Images of Women in a Hot Wind: Exploring the Love Poetry of Gertrud Kolmar and Celia Dropkin”

Ester-Basya (Asya) Vaisman, Harvard University
“Hasidish Yiddish: Effects of English on the Yiddish of Contemporary Hasidim”

1:00 -2:00 PM: Discussion: Looking Forward

More information about this Seminar