Welcome to the fascinating world of Judeo-Latin. In this article, we will thoroughly explore all aspects related to Judeo-Latin, from its origins to its impact on today's society. Over the next few lines, we will discover what makes Judeo-Latin so relevant, what the current trends are and where it is headed in the future. Whether you are an expert in Judeo-Latin or just starting to get familiar with the topic, this article will provide you with a complete and up-to-date overview of everything you need to know about Judeo-Latin. Get ready to immerse yourself in a journey of knowledge and discovery about Judeo-Latin!
Judeo-Latin (also spelled Judaeo-Latin) is the use by Jews of the Hebrew alphabet to write Latin. The term was coined by Cecil Roth to describe a small corpus of texts from the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages, there was no Judeo-Latin in the sense of "an ethnodialect used by Jews on a regular basis to communicate among themselves", and the existence of such a Jewish language under the Roman Empire is pure conjecture.
The Judeo-Latin corpus consists of an Anglo-Jewish charter and Latin quotations in otherwise Hebrew works (such as anti-Christian polemics, incantations and prayers). Christian converts to Judaism sometimes brought with them an extensive knowledge of the Vulgate translation of the Bible. The Sefer Nizzahon Yashan and Joseph ben Nathan Official's Sefer Yosef ha-Mekanne contain extensive quotations from the Vulgate in Hebrew letters. Latin technical terms sometimes appear in Hebrew texts. There is evidence of the oral use of Latin formulas in dowsing, ordeals and ceremonies.
Leo Levi found some Hebraisms in a few epigraphs in Italy.