Episode 111: Ladino Makes a Comeback

Can We Talk?

Segun el tiempo, se abolta la vela. That’s a Ladino saying that means, “According to the weather, shift your sail.” And it's an apt way of describing Ladino's recent comeback. Ladino—or Judeo-Spanish—the language spoken by Sephardic Jews in Turkey, Greece and North Africa, saw a major decline after the Holocaust destroyed communities of native speakers. But like a sailboat shifting course when the wind changes direction, Ladino has adapted to the times. In this episode of Can We Talk, you’ll hear how from Naomi Spector and Nesi Altaras, two Ladino enthusiasts, and from Hannah Pressman, one of the people spearheading Ladino’s resurgence.

Additional resources:

The American Ladino League

Ladinokomunita (online Ladino discussion group)

Documenting Judeo-Spanish (solitreo documents and reading guide)

Ladino Linguist (Bryan Kirschen)

Hannah S. Pressman (selected writing)

Enkontros de Alhad (weekly Ladino talk show)

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