Language connects – and divides

From the Middle Ages onwards, the Jews adopt the Middle High German language for contracts and communication with the majority society. In their day-to-day lives, they speak Yiddish, a mixture of German, Hebrew and Aramaic. Many Yiddish terms can still be found in the German language nowadays. Nevertheless, caution is required: not all of these terms have retained their original, neutral meaning, and some even now have anti-Semitic connotations.