Why is Yiddish not a dialect of German?

 

Kit di Pomi

Jewish Redneck, spending this incarnation on the porkless plan . . .

451 followers

5 following

Mutual intelligibility is evidence of overlap, not of belonging to a dialect continuum.

That's defined by phonology, and Yiddish has never been part of the German continuum.

This a just a case of two languages being closely related.

If the two parents of a tongue are lexis and phono, Yiddish and German are similar appearing half sisters that share the lexis one but not the phonology one

IEsoecially because if we speak Yiddish to a German as we would to each other, the German wouldn’t be able to follow, no matter how extensive his mastery of German dialects may be.

Many sentences of the type “A herring iz a fish” that would be easy for a German to figure out wouldn’t be that much harder for a Dutch or English speaker. Thanks to the definite articles in Yiddish looking like the German ones, ‘der’, ‘di’, ‘dos’ and ‘dem’, and the indefinite article looking like the English ones, ‘a’ and ‘an’, one can construct large numbers of sentences that are easily intelligible in German or English. For a German-English bilingual, the number is huge. However, in real life, one is unlikely to get several of these in a row, so following a conversation is out of the question for a German without specific knowledge. The very fact that a bilingual is advantaged points to something other than dialect divergence defining the difference. In fact, also knowing Aramaic, Hebrew, French or Russian would all help a German decipher Yiddish.

The ancestors of Yiddish speakers came to Europe as Aramaic speakers with a Hebraicized Aramaic who picked up a Romance vernacular based on old French in Champagne and Burgundy. That tongue was heavily Germanized without the loss of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Latin elements, so it began more as a fusion of existing Jewish speech with Middle High German than an actual dialect of German, and was normally written in the Aramaic square script, which also served to keep it apart from the German sprachbund.

The German elements are a mix of Rhineland, Alpine and Bavarian forms, and don’t cohere to any particular German dialect. Since the Germanizing occurred, the distance between Yiddish and any form of German has only been increasing; with the continued influx of Hebrew, Latin elements mostly from Italian and French, a variable amount of Slavicizing having occurred especially in the northern and eastern forms and considerable penetration of Anglo lexis since the 1880s.

What are the top rules for success?

 

Anubhav Jain

164,583 followers

89 following

Lives in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India2011–present

1. A stress-free, good night’s sleep is the biggest success.
2. When you are passionate about something, and you can pursue it with dedication, it's success.
3. When you are miserable, and you don't give up and give a strong fight, it's success.
4. When you succeed in routine tasks and get a smile on your face, it's success.
5. When you face a complex and tough situation in life and you don't procrastinate and do you deeds, it's success.
6. When you lose something or can't have something, and you cope with the fact and move on, it's success.

Having wealth, fame and power is not success; success is how well you live your life with limited resources and never let the faint smile wipe away from your face.

Did they eat the same food in East Germany as they did in West Germany?

 

Volker Eichener

Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf

Studied Political Science & Sociology at Ruhr University BochumGraduated 1999

Some traditional dishes were the same or almost the same, but GDR cuisine was significantly different.

First, they adopted some dishes from the Soviet Union:

Soljanka, a Russian soup, was extremely prominent in East German cuisine.

Letscho, a dish of bellpeppers and onions which originated in Hungary, was something like the standard vegetable in East German restaurants, often served with meatballs (Bouletten). Letscho was easily available in tins.

Second, there were also East German dishes which did not exist in West Germany, like Jägerschnitzel made from breaded sausage:

(West German Jägerschnitzel was pork steak with mushroom sauce, so entirely different.)

Würzfleisch was an East German adaptation of Ragout Fin. First, since veal and sweetbread were hardly to get, they made a stew from pork or chicken. Second, it was gratinated with cheese. Third, the French name “Ragout Fin” was eliminated because it was politically not correct to eat a dish with a decadent capitalist name.

On the other side, East German cuisine did not adapt most of the Mediterranean influences which changed West German cuisine, partly because ingredients were not available. From a West German view, GDR cuisine was somewhat old-fashioned and lacked refinement.

Currently, we have a strong GDR nostalgia (“ostalgia” from “ost” for “east”) and many cookery books on East German cuisine are published.

What is the relationship between the German language and the English language?

 

Steven Haddock

Compliance Officer

83,445 followers

38 following

Insufferable know-it-all, mostly law, science, politics and Canadian football.

Old English, the form of English spoken in England in the 6th century to the 11th century, was almost entirely based on forms of German spoken on the northwest coast of Germany during the same period. English borrows almost no words from the languages that must have been spoken in the region by the native population (which were closer to modern Welsh)

German and English started to diverge in the 6th century as different groups of people started also invading the territory, like the Danes and the Vikings, which brought other words into English.

But the big split was in the 11th century when the Normans conquered England and ruled over it for over 400 years. The Norman kings and aristocrats only spoke French but allowed the natives to keep speaking their own language. However, from that point forward German and English diverged greatly as instead of using compounding to form new words, English instead borrowed Norman words. Although in 1066 German and English shared a lot of vocabulary, by the 16th century they only shared very basic vocabulary and more complex vocabulary was Norman French borrowed words in English but compound German words in German.

Of the 5,000 most common words in English, about 95% of them have a German root, and many are still German cognates, like “Hound” and “Flesh” (“Hund” and “Fleisch” respectively).

Is the Black Forest in Germany as scary as the name implies?

Volker Eichener

4,119 followers

0 following

Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf

Studied Political Science & Sociology at Ruhr University BochumGraduated 1999

Is the Black Forest in Germany as scary as the name implies?

It is not scary at all. In fact, it is lovely.

Actually, nobody knows why this mountain range is called “Black Forest”. The ancient Romans called it “Mons Abnobae”, after the Celtic goddess Abnoba (Diana in Latin). The word “Black Forest” (“svarzwald”, “silva nigra” in medieval Latin) appeared for the first time in a document from 868, and we have no clue why. (One theory says it was just a writing error, because the name was derived from the Latin word “Nicer” for the river Neckar.)

Over the centuries, the Black Forest changed its appearance several times. Originally, it was a dense forest of leafy trees (mainly beeches) and coniferes. Then, almost all the trees were cut in order to use the wood. After that, it was reforested with fast-growing firs which have a darker appearance. Today, the forest stewards let it grow naturally, so the leafy trees are becoming more rife.

Anyway, it is a region which is perfect for hiking and mountain-biking.

Most trails are wide as shown in the picture above. There is nothing dangerous in the woods, no aggressive animals and not poisonous plants. The only dangerous thing is the common tick (however, I have never got bitten in 50 years). And maybe a hangover after having a glass wine too much in the evening before.

EDIT:

Here an excerpt of Avienus, Rufius Festus: Descriptio Orbis Terrae from the 4th century:

A votive stela for goddes Diana Abnoba, still visible in Badenweiler:

23.2K views

View 910 upvotes

View 6 shares

As a Germanic language speaker, how do other Germanic languages sound to you?

Andreas Mehne

UX Designer, Language Enthusiast

They sound… Germanic to me, including English.

That comes from certain phonological commonalities among this language family that makes for a certain kinship. Unlike most other respondents I’ll focus on how other Germanic languages as a whole contrast with other language families. For context I speak German natively, English native-like, then several Romance languages, a bit of Dutch and Danish and a smattering of Hungarian.

Here’s what the phonologies of the Germanic languages have in common:

• An audibly large, differentiated vowel phoneme repertoire (1) that native speakers of non-Germanic languages usually struggle with.
• Distinct vowel length contrast that usually (but not always) mates open articulation to short vowels and closed articulation to long ones.
• A stressed-timed prosody (speech rhythm) with stressed syllables receiving noticeably more articulatory weight than unstressed ones (2).
• Except for Dutch, Afrikaans, and certain German dialects, there are usually aspirated plosives (stops) like /pʰ/, /kʰ/, /tʰ/.
• There’s often some nucleus you can understand or guess at without much foreknowledge as a speaker of one Germanic language when overhearing a conversation in another, though I have some reservations about most English speakers in that regard.

French has a noticeably Germanic (Frankish) influenced vowel system. While clearly not a Germanic language, that gives it an overall sound quality quite unlike that of other Romance languages. Most Romance and many Slavic languages, and also Modern Greek, give roughly equal weight to the articulation of each syllable, so word stress does not have quite the same effect (with a few exceptions, see #2 below). In Slavic languages the phonetic effect of palatalisation is a strong component of their overall sound impression, and in Hungarian a consistent if weak first-syllable stress is completely independent from the distribution of vowel length—just to illustrate how certain languages or language families contrast with the bullet points above.

---

(1) A similarly extensive vowel system exists in Turkish, too, as far as I know.

(2) Portuguese (Romance) and Russian (Slavic) have quite pronounced effects of stress on vowel quality, too, however without distinguishing vowel quantity, i.e. length.

---

To touch on the specific sound impressions of other Germanic languages, as that was obviously part of the question, too:

Dutch is phonetically close to some of the Ripuarian (Rhineland) dialects I’ve been familiar with since childhood. It has a certain iambic, ta-daah, ta-daah speech rhythm (in some speakers) and an overall laidback feel, with less tense articulation than German. Same goes for offspring Afrikaans.

Yiddish is German that’s hard to understand at first. After a while it begins to sound like certain upper German dialects (Palatinate, Franconian maybe…) pristinely preserved, and that is exactly where some of its roots were. It has audible Slavic adstrats and some Slavic derived idiomatic calques like the concept of verb aspect.

Swedish and Norwegian have a famous tone accent that produces a characteristic melody. Danish has a secondary-articulation glottal stop (stød) in lieu of that tone accent that produces an unusual micro-hiatus in otherwise smooth speech. The occurrence of <d> and sometimes <t> articulated as a dental approximant (softened /ð/) causes an effect often described as garbled.

Icelandic has a wonderfully archaic sound, as if our fore-bearers are speaking to us in hipster disguise. This is as close to Old Norse as you get, and it’s as if you hear the blustery, thundering North Atlantic in the background. Trite clichés aside, it produces a really intriguing accent when Icelanders speak other Germanic languages.

English has a distinct sound impression from the retroflex /ɹ/, particularly in its rhotic varieties where vowels become r-coloured. Together with the approximant /w/ and the preserved dentals /ð/ and /θ/ which many other Germanic languages have lost, it has a more liquid quality. The proliferation of diphthongs give certain variants of English a twangy sound.

German has quite dry and brittle phonetics and slightly tense sounding vowels. In my humble opinion, and speaking of clichés, that is why it can easily produce an impression of harshness when articulated with a stabby, sharp or pedantic attitude. Speakers of German, Swiss, and Austrian dialects may dismiss this as just a feature of Standardhochdeutsch. It’s not, just chill when speaking.

What are the signs that your kidneys have recovered from failure?

 

Dr. Oliver

Health Educator | Health Writter| Speaker

869 followers

19 following

Dr. Oliver👨‍⚕️ is a dedicated advocate for self-help and general health, committed to guiding individuals on their journey to optimal well-being.

What are the signs that your kidneys have recovered from failure?

If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney failure or injury, it’s natural to wonder if your body is bouncing back.

The good news? Kidneys can recover—especially if the damage was sudden and treated early.

But how do you know if they’re actually getting better? Let’s explore the signs, both physical and medical, that your kidneys are on the road to recovery.

---

Can Kidneys Really Recover from Failure?

First, let’s clear something up. There are two main types of kidney failure: acute and chronic.

• Acute kidney injury (AKI) happens suddenly, often due to things like dehydration, infection, or a reaction to medications. With fast treatment, AKI is often reversible.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD), on the other hand, develops over time and is usually permanent. But even with CKD, kidney function can improve and stabilize with the right care.

So yes—recovery is possible, especially if your kidneys weren’t severely scarred and the underlying cause has been treated.

Healing takes time. Depending on the situation, it might be days, weeks, or even months before real signs of improvement show.

---

Early Signs of Kidney Recovery You Can Feel

Your body often speaks before lab results do. Many of the early signs of kidney recovery are felt more than seen—and they can be subtle.

If your kidneys are healing, you may notice:

1. More consistent urination

You may start peeing more regularly, with normal color and flow.

This is a strong sign that your kidneys are filtering fluids better again.

2. Less swelling

If your feet, legs, or face were puffy, you may notice the swelling going down.

That’s your body clearing out extra fluid—a job your kidneys do when they’re working well.

3. More energy

Kidney failure often brings fatigue. Feeling more alert, energized, and awake can be an encouraging sign that your body is balancing itself again.

4. Improved appetite and fewer stomach issues

As kidney function improves, nausea often fades, and food starts tasting better. If you’re hungry again, that’s a great sign.

5. Clearer thinking

Brain fog is a real issue during kidney failure. If your thoughts are sharper and your mood is lifting, it might be a sign that toxins aren’t building up like they were before.

These physical changes don’t always happen all at once—but even one or two can indicate that your kidneys are getting back on track.

---

Medical Signs and Lab Results That Show Recovery

While how you feel matters, lab results give a more exact picture of your kidney health.

If your kidneys are improving, doctors will notice it on paper first.

Here are the lab-based signs of kidney recovery:

• Lower creatinine levels
  Creatinine is a waste product. High levels usually mean the kidneys aren't filtering well. If your numbers are dropping, it shows progress.
• Decreased BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
  Like creatinine, BUN rises when kidney function is poor. A lower number is a positive recovery sign.
• Improved GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate)
  GFR measures how well your kidneys are filtering blood. The higher the number, the better. Even small jumps in GFR mean a lot during recovery.
• Balanced electrolytes
  When your potassium, sodium, and phosphate levels return to normal, that suggests your kidneys are getting back in control.
• Stable blood pressure
  High or unstable blood pressure often comes with kidney trouble. When your BP starts to settle—without extra meds—it can mean your kidneys are stabilizing, too.

Your doctor will likely monitor these levels regularly through blood and urine tests.

They may also check how much urine your body is producing—a major indicator of filtering ability.

---

Long-Term Monitoring and What to Expect

Even if signs of recovery are showing, it’s important to stay cautious. Kidneys are sensitive, and relapses can happen if care isn’t taken.

Your healthcare provider will likely recommend:

A. Regular lab tests

Keeping an eye on bloodwork helps detect any dips in function early.

B. A kidney-friendly diet

Even during recovery, you may need to limit certain foods—like salt, potassium, or phosphorus—to avoid overworking your kidneys.

C. Proper hydration

Not too much, not too little. Drinking the right amount of water helps keep things flowing smoothly.

D. Avoiding medications that strain the kidneys

NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), contrast dyes, and some antibiotics can slow healing or cause more damage.

Always ask your doctor before starting new meds.

For those who were on dialysis, recovery signs may lead to a reduction in sessions—or even an end to dialysis altogether.

However, this should never be done without close medical guidance.

My Research Sources

Information referenced from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), Mayo Clinic, and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). All data medically verified and up to date with current nephrology guidelines.

---

Final Thoughts – Listen to Your Body, Trust the Process

Kidney recovery can be a quiet, slow process—but your body will let you know when things are getting better.

More energy, regular urination, normal blood pressure, and good test results are all steps in the right direction.

Healing doesn’t always mean full reversal, but every sign of improvement counts.

Stay committed to your treatment plan, eat clean, hydrate wisely, and check in with your healthcare provider regularly.

Your kidneys are tough. With the right care, they can surprise you.