Beginners Guide to Ladino/Guide to Reading and Writing Ladino

Guide to Reading and Writing Ladino Like any language, Ladino has its own particularities in how it is written. Ladino is a bit unique in this regard, however, because it uses at least three writing systems: Hebrew block letters (most often in the Rashi script) Hebrew cursive letters called Solitreo Latin letters. Because Wikibooks does not (yet!) support the Rashi or Solitreo scripts, this book uses the more widely available Ktav Ashuri block script common to Modern Israeli Hebrew. In some cases, images using Rashi or Solitreo are provided. Note. When it is written in Hebrew letters, Ladino is written and read right-to-left. When it is written in Latin letters, Ladino is written and read left-to right. Goals of this chapter This chapter will explain how Ladino's writing system works. By the end of this chapter, you should be able to: Name the three main writing systems used in Ladino Explain the difference between an alphabet and an abjad Use rafe to correctly differentiate letters Identify which Hebraic letters have word-final (sofit) forms Employ optional spelling conventions in a consistent way Understand that: some Hebraic letters have one-to-many correspondence with Latinate letters some Latinate letters have one-to-many correspondence with Hebraic letters some letters in both Hebraic and Latinate writing have one-to-many correspondence with different sounds Use Ladino's system of writing 'rules' to deal with complex Hebraic spellings, such as: positional alefs for word-initial vowels (excluding /a/), hiatuses, and /w/ glides sequences of <י> and <יי> The Hebrew Alphabet • איל אלפ׳אביטו איבריאו For the purposes of this book, there are 36 letters in Ladino's Hebrew alphabet. This table shows each of these letters, written in Rashi script, the Solitreo cursive, and Ktav Ashuri. The name of the letter is provided, along with the equivalent(s) for each letter in the Latin alphabet, the sound of the letter in the International Phonetic Alphabet, and a comparable sound in English. Take note that one Hebrew letter might represent multiple sounds, and that one sound might be represented by multiple Hebrew letters. Rashi Solitreo Ktav Ashuri Name Latin Equivalent IPA Sounds like center|100px center|100px א alef a Open front unrounded vowel.ogg /a/ no father center|100px center|100px ב bet b Voiced bilabial plosive.ogg /b/ no beat center|100px center|100px ב׳ vet v Voiced labio-dental fricative.ogg /v/ no verb center|100px center|100px ג gimel g Voiced velar plosive 02.ogg /g/ no gas center|100px center|100px ג׳ gimel dj, ch Voiced palato-alveolar affricate.ogg /ʤ/ noVoiceless palato-alveolar affricate.ogg /ʧ/ no jump, chin center|100px center|100px ג׳׳ gimel ch Voiceless palato-alveolar affricate.ogg /ʧ/ no chin center|100px center|100px ד dalet d Voiced alveolar plosive.ogg /d/ no ditch center|100px center|100px ד׳ dalet d Voiced dental fricative.ogg /ð/ no the center|100px center|100px ה he a Open front unrounded vowel.ogg /a/ no father center|100px center|100px ו vav o, u Close-mid back rounded vowel.ogg /o/ noClose back rounded vowel.ogg /u/ no open, moon center|100px center|100px ז zayin z Voiced alveolar sibilant.ogg /z/ no zoo center|100px center|100px ז׳ zayin j Voiced palato-alveolar sibilant.ogg /ʒ/ no vision center|100px center|100px ח het h Voiceless velar fricative.ogg /x/ no chutzpah center|100px center|100px ט tet t Voiceless alveolar plosive.ogg /t/ no time center|100px center|100px י yod e, i Close-mid front unrounded vowel.ogg /e/ noClose front unrounded vowel.ogg /i/ no may, me center|100px center|100px יי yod y Palatal approximant.ogg /j/ no yes center|100px center|100px כ kaf h, k Voiceless velar fricative.ogg /x/ noVoiceless velar plosive.ogg /k/ no chutzpah, camp center|100px center|100px ך kaf sofit h, k Voiceless velar fricative.ogg /x/ noVoiceless velar plosive.ogg /k/ no chutzpah, camp center|100px center|100px ל lamed l Alveolar lateral approximant.ogg /l/ no life center|100px center|100px מ mem m Bilabial nasal.ogg /m/ no melon center|100px center|100px ם mem sofit m Bilabial nasal.ogg /m/ no melon center|100px center|100px נ nun n Alveolar nasal.ogg /n/ no none center|100px center|100px ן nun sofit n Alveolar nasal.ogg /n/ no none center|100px center|100px ס sameh s Voiceless alveolar sibilant.ogg /s/ no some center|100px center|100px ע ayin a Open front unrounded vowel.ogg /a/ no father center|100px center|100px פ pe p Voiceless bilabial plosive.ogg /p/ no put center|100px center|100px ף pe sofit p Voiceless bilabial plosive.ogg /p/ no put center|100px center|100px פ׳ fe f Voiceless labio-dental fricative.ogg /f/ no fade center|100px center|100px ף׳ fe sofit f Voiceless labio-dental fricative.ogg /f/ no fade center|100px center|100px צ sadik s Voiceless alveolar sibilant.ogg /s/ no some center|100px center|100px ץ sadik sofit s Voiceless alveolar sibilant.ogg /s/ no some center|100px center|100px ק kof k Voiceless velar plosive.ogg /k/ no camp center|100px center|100px ר resh r Alveolar tap.ogg /ɾ/ no butter center|100px center|100px ש shin s, sh Voiceless alveolar sibilant.ogg /s/ noVoiceless palato-alveolar sibilant.ogg /ʃ/ no some, shirt center|100px center|100px ש׳ shin sh Voiceless palato-alveolar sibilant.ogg /ʃ/ no shirt center|100px center|100px ת tav t Voiceless alveolar plosive.ogg /t/ no time The Latin Alphabet Vowels (<a e i o u> for /a e i o u/) are exactly the same as in Spanish. <k> is used for all /k/ sounds– there is no <q> or <c> for /k/ cuando, kuando que, ke <s> is used for all /s/ sounds– there is no <c> for /s/ cielo, syelo <y> is only for /j/ <y> cannot be /i/, <i> is used for and <j> is used for the j in jour (French) <dj> replaces the english <j> sound (like in jump) <b v s z> sound as they do in English <x> can only be used for the /gz/ and /ks/ sounds. <gz> can be used for /gz/ Diphthongs with <i> can be written as with either i or y: bien - byen preparasion - preparasyon komio - komyo Alphabets and abjads In an alphabet system, both vowels and consonants are written out. English and Castilian (Spanish) are two examples of languages that use alphabets. Other languages might use a system called an abjad. In abjad systems, vowels may be omitted. Take, for example, the following words: Word (Ladino - Hebrew) Word (Ladino - Latin)Word (English) חכם hahamsmart, wise; Sephardic rabbi קוזה kozathing חכם is a word of Hebrew origin. If we are writing Ladino in the Hebrew script, we always write words of Hebrew or Aramaic origin exactly as they are written in Hebrew or Aramaic; חכם is the correct spelling in both Hebrew and Ladino. But if we write חכם in the Latin script, we gain two more letters that aren't there in the Hebrew! The Latin script version represents explicitly all the sounds that appear in the word, but the Hebraic letters only represent the consonants: ח, which makes a guttural h sound (/x/), כ, which makes a similar sound to ח in this context, and ם, which makes an /m/ sound. This means that sometimes, Ladino behaves like an abjad when we write in the Hebrew script and borrow words from Hebrew or Aramaic. On the other hand, קוזה is a word of Romance origin, and Romance languages use true alphabets, so every sound is represented explicitly in both the Hebrew and Latin versions of the word: ק - /k/, ו - /o/, ז - /z/, and ה - /a/. Diacritics Ladino written in the Hebraic scripts uses only one diacritic, called a rafe. The rafe is used to denote variations in pronunciation of a letter. Some pronunciation distinctions within letters must use rafe: No rafe With rafeHebraic letterLatinate LetterIPAExampleHebraic LetterLatinate LetterIPAExample center|100px ב b/b/באיילאר center|100px ב׳v/v/ב׳וזוטראסbaylarvozotrasto danceyou (f.pl)center|100px גg/g/ייגהcenter|100px ג׳dj/ʤ/ג׳ודיוdjudioyegaJewishch/t͡ʃ/ג׳אפיוarrive (3.sg)chapeohatcenter|100px זz/z/קאזהcenter|100px ז׳j/ʒ/אוז׳וסkazaojoshouseeyes center|100px פ p/p/ פור center|100px פ׳f/f/פ׳אזירporfazerforto do Other pronunciation distinctions are optional to depict with rafe: No rafe With rafeExplanationHebraic letterLatinate LetterIPAExampleHebraic LetterLatinate LetterIPAExamplecenter|100pxגg/g/ייגהcenter|100pxג׳dj/ʤ/ג׳ודיוThe <ג> vs. <ג׳> contrast is obligatory, but Ladino users have a choice of whether <ג׳> represents both /ʤ/ and /t͡ʃ/, or to add <ג׳׳> so that <ג׳> is for /ʤ/ and <ג׳׳> is for /t͡ʃ/. <ג׳׳> is a relatively recent (ca. 2021) initiative by the Akademia Nasionala del Ladino to assist learning.djudioyegaJewishcenter|100pxג׳׳ch/t͡ʃ/ג׳׳אפיוarrive (3.sg)chapeohatcenter|100pxדd/d/דורארcenter|100pxד׳d/ð/נאד׳הSome dialects merge /d/ and /ð/ to /d/. Note that the Latinate letters do not change; this distinction only applies in the Hebraic scripts.durarnadato lastnothing center|100pxש s/s/ מעשה center|100pxש׳sh/ʃ/ש׳אב׳וןSome Ladino users will make this distinction for greater clarity.maaseshavonstoryto do While there is only one diacritic, how it is actually written can vary: Geresh RafeVarrika center|100px center|100pxcenter|100px This book uses the geresh ׳ to depict the rafe due to its ease of use. Note that rafe is both the name for the diacritic overall and for one of the ways that the diacritic can be written. The geresh should also not be confused with an apostrophe '. In the Latin writing systems, acute accents (e.g., <é>) to denote stress (as in Spanish) are optional in Ladino, but they are only used when the word goes against normal stress patterns for Ladino words: word ends in a vowel (/a e i o u/) or any of: /n s ʃ/ paroxytone: the stress is on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable word ends in any other consonant oxytone: the stress is on the last syllable For example, the word מעשה (maase) has its stress on the last syllable. However, it ends with a vowel, so it "should" be paroxytone and have its stress on the second to last– we have a conflict. We always go with what the word actually sounds like, not what the general patterns are, to determine if we can place an accent. So, we know we can place an accent (because this word goes against the general patterns) and we know that accent would go on the last syllable: maasé. There is no hard rule to know where the stress goes, you must be able to hear the word and identify where the stress is or already know where the stress goes. Final (sofit) letters Six Hebraic letters in Ladino have an obligatory alternative form for when they appear in word-final (sofit) position. Their pronunciation does not change when used as sofit. Non-sofit SofitLetterExample (Ladino - Hebraic)Example (Ladino - Latinized)Example (English)LetterExample (Ladino - Hebraic)Example (Ladino - Latinized)Example (English) center|100pxכ ברכהberahablessingcenter|100pxךברוךbaruhblessed be center|100pxמ מונג׳׳וmunchomanycenter|100pxםחכםhahamsmart; wise; Sephardic rabbicenter|100pxננוג׳׳יnochenightcenter|100pxןאיסטאןestanthey (3.pl) arecenter|100pxפפאראסparasmoneycenter|100pxףמונאסיףmunasipappropriatecenter|100pxפ׳פ׳אזירfazerto docenter|100pxף׳קייף׳kiefpleasurecenter|100pxצצדקהsedakaalmsgivingcenter|100pxץאיריץEresEretz (Land), as in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) Positional alefs There are certain cases in Hebrew-written Ladino that require what is called a 'positional alef'. This is an alef which has no sound, but it indicates that one of three things is happening: The word starts with a vowel other than /a/ The word has a 'hiatus' The word has a /w/ glide other than the /wa/ glide Words written in Latinized Ladino do not have positional alefs. Words starting with a vowel other than /a/ This is the most straightforward use of positional alefs. If a word begins with a vowel other than /a/, then a positional alef comes at the start of the word: elefante (elephant) – איליפ'אנטי ijo (son) – איז'ו ovra (work) – אוב'רה umano (human) – אומאנו <y> is never a vowel in Ladino: yerva (grass) – יירב'ה Words with haituses A word has a hiatus if there are two adjacent (touching) vowels, but they belong to two different syllables. If you don't know how many syllables there are in a word, there's a few tricks! Clap along to the word (clap a-long to the word; hi-a-tus; ad-ja-cent; La-di-no; dju-de-o-es-pan-yol) With your mouth closed, place your hand under your chin. Say the words out loud and count how many times your jaw pushes your hand down as you say the word. Here's some examples in Ladino, with the words syllabified (divisions marked by -) but the positional alefs removed underneath each example: anchua (anchovy) – אנג׳׳ואה an-chu-a – אנ–ג׳׳ו–ה kaos (chaos) – קאאוס ka-os — קא–וס pais (country) – פאאיס pa-is — פא–יס tio (uncle) — טיאו ti-o — טי–ו kaer (to fall) – קאאיר ka-er — קא–יר leon (lion) – ליאון le-on — לי–ון Words with /w/ glides (other than /wa/) On the other hand from hiatuses, two adjacent vowels can also belong to the same syllable, in which case they form a 'diphthong'. If the diphthong starts with <u> and makes a /w/ sound, it is said to form a '/w/-glide'. Here are those sounds; listen to how there's a /w/ sound: <ua> – kuando (when) קואנדו <ue> – kuerno (horn) קוא׳רנו <ui> – fui (I was) פ׳ואי <uo> – ambiguo (ambiguous) אמביגואו Note that kuando does not have a positional alef. <ua> glides never use a positional alef. Examples <ai> – אאי aí – אאי <au> or <ao> – אאו baúl (trunk) – באאול <ay> – איי chay (tea) – ג׳׳איי <ea> – יא meatad (half) – מיאטאד׳ <ee> or <ei> – יאי kreer (to think) – קריאיר <eo> or <io> – יאו frio (cold) – פ׳ריאו <ia> – יא giador (guide) – גיאדור <oa> or <ua> – וא loar (to praise) – לואר <oi> – ואי mois – מואיס Yod A single yod represents <i> /i/ and <e> /e/. Double yod can represent <y> /j/, but it can also represent two single yods (<ei>, <ie>), or combinations of single yod with double yod, as there cannot be a triple yod: <ey>, <ye>, <iy>, <yi>. Examples Single yod: meter (to put) – מיטיר bivir (to live) – ביב׳יר Double yod: ayde (come on) – איידי Two single yods: peinar (to comb) – פיינאר biervo (word) – ביירב׳ו Single yod with double yod: eyos (they.3.sg) – אייוס yega (arrives.3.sg) – ייגה maraviyas (great!) – מאראב׳ייאס buyir (to boil) – בואייר Words of Hebrew or Aramaic Origin Complete Table of Letters Hebraic Letter Letter Name Latinate LetterIPASounds like (English)Example (Ladino - Hebraic)Example (Ladino - Latinized)Example (English)ExplanationKtav AshuriRashiSolitreoFinal (sofit) letterKtav AshuriRashiSolitreoאcenter|100pxcenter|100pxalefa/a/fatherאב׳לארavlarto speak/Ø/אונוunooneWords that start with /e i o u/ have a silent positional alef at the beginningריאירreirlaughWords that have a hiatus (two consecutive vowels that belong to different syllables) have a silent, intervocalic (in-between those two vowels) positional alefבואינוbuenogoodWords that have /w/ glides (except /wa/ glides) have an intervocalic positional alefבcenter|100pxcenter|100px bet b /b/beatבואינוbuenogoodLadino distinguishes /b/ and /v/ much more strongly than Castilian. ב׳center|100pxcenter|100px vet v /v/verbב׳ינוvinowineגcenter|100pxcenter|100px gimel g /g/gasאגואהaguawaterג׳center|100pxcenter|100px dj /ʤ/jumpג׳ודיוdjudioJewishג׳׳center|100pxcenter|100px ch /t͡ʃ/chinג׳׳אפיאוchapeohatSome users of Ladino will use ג׳ for this sound. The Akademia Nasionala del Ladino en Israel began promoting the use of this letter for orthographic clarity in 2021. Sometimes written as <ç> in Latinate script.דcenter|100pxcenter|100px dalet d /d/ditchדיזירdizirto sayד׳center|100pxcenter|100pxd/ð/theפאד׳ריpadrefatherThis distinction is optional.הcenter|100pxcenter|100pxheØהלכהalahaHalakha a/a/fatherקוזהkozathingWords that don't come from Hebrew or Aramaic with word-final /a/ use ה.מערהmearacavernWords with Hebrew or Aramaic origin that have word-final /a/ realized as ה in their original language preserve that ה in Ladino.וcenter|100pxcenter|100pxvavo/o/openב׳ואינוbuenogoodu/u/moonמונג׳׳וmunchomuchv/v/verbמצוהmisvamitzvah (Jewish religious law)Words with Hebrew or Aramaic origin that realize /v/ realized as ו in their original language preserve that ו in Ladino.זcenter|100pxcenter|100pxzayinz/z/zooקאזהkazahouseThis sound is never /θ/ like in Peninsular Castilian.ז׳center|100pxcenter|100pxj/ʒ/visionאיז׳וijosonThis sound is never /x/ like in Castilian.חcenter|100pxcenter|100pxheth/x/chutzpahאחארבארaharvarto hit; to beatUsed for words of Hebrew or Aramaic origin which use ח.אליחאנדרוAlejandroAlejandroUsed to transcribe /x/ sounds.טcenter|100pxcenter|100pxtett/t/timeטופארtoparfindיcenter|100pxcenter|100pxyode/e/mayמיטירmeterputi/i/meביב׳ירbivirliveייcenter|100pxcenter|100pxy/j/yesאיידיaydecome onei/ei/dayפיינארpeinarto combThere cannot be a triple yod in Ladino. Some Ladino users will use <ליי> for what would be <ll> in Castilian.ie/je/yesביירב׳וbiervowordey/ei/ableאייוסeyosthey (m.pl)ye/je/sierraייגהyegaarrives (3.sg)iy/ij/ideaמאראב׳ייאסmaraviyas!great!yi/ji/Yiddishבואיירbuyirto boilכcenter|100pxcenter|100pxךcenter|100pxcenter|100pxkafk/k/campכבודkavodrespectOnly used for words of Hebrew or Aramaic origin which use כ.hafh/x/Loch Nessחכםhahamsmart; wise; Sephardic rabbiלcenter|100pxcenter|100pxlamedl/l/lifeנאטוראלnaturalnaturalמcenter|100pxcenter|100pxםcenter|100pxcenter|100pxmemm/m/melonמאדריmadremotherנcenter|100pxcenter|100pxןcenter|100pxcenter|100pxnunn/n/noneנאדארnadarto swimסcenter|100pxcenter|100pxsamehs/s/someסוב׳ריsovreaboutעcenter|100pxcenter|100pxayina/a/fatherעמידהamidaAmidah (Jewish prayer)Only used for words of Hebrew or Aramaic origin which use ע.פcenter|100pxcenter|100pxףcenter|100pxcenter|100pxpep/p/putפיזגאדוpezgadofishפ׳center|100pxcenter|100pxף׳center|100pxcenter|100pxfef/f/fadeסופ׳רירsufrirsufferצcenter|100pxcenter|100pxץcenter|100pxcenter|100pxsadiks/s/bootsארץ ישראלEres IsraelEretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel)Only used for words of Hebrew or Aramaic origin which use צ.קcenter|100pxcenter|100pxkofk/k/combקיkethatרcenter|100pxcenter|100pxreshr/ɾ/butterריגלהreglarulerr/r/no English equivalent; trilled rפירוperrodogר is never doubled.שcenter|100pxcenter|100pxshins/s/suitמעשהmaasestoryש׳center|100pxcenter|100pxsh/ʃ/shirtד׳ש׳ארdesharto leaveThis distinction is optional. Sometimes written in Latinate script as <x>.תcenter|100pxcenter|100pxtavt/t/toothמצוותmisvotmitzvot (Jewish religious laws)Only used for words of Hebrew or Aramaic origin which use ת. Notes 2. There are is no (א) at the end of ladino words. The (א) at the end of a word will be replaced by a (ה) at the end of a word 3. In certain countries the digraph (ליי) which represents a "double L" will be used to pronounced y; although not all dialects have this "double L" it is used almost universally in every dialect to spell Eya, Eyas, and Eyos.