Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic: meet the author
Posted on 28th November, 2024
To celebrate the publication of Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic: An Introductory Text, we are delighted to publish an interview with the author, Dr Assaf Bar-Moshe.
Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic was the native tongue spoken by the Jews of Baghdad and other towns of Southern Iraq, historically one of the oldest and biggest Jewish communities. This textbook is dedicated to spoken Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic and is designed to guide beginners to an advanced level, with the goal of enabling basic conversations. It focuses on common expressions of this unique dialect and opens a window to Baghdad’s historic Jewish culture. The 10 lessons guide readers through topics such as greetings, family, shopping or cuisine, and consist of sample texts, key vocabulary, grammar points and exercises.
In this interview, Dr Bar-Moshe explains his connection to Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic, gives insights into his approach to language research and describes how the academic study of rare languages is evolving.
What motivated you to write and publish this book?
The textbook focuses on teaching my mother tongue, Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic, a distinct dialect of Arabic once spoken by the Jewish community in Baghdad, which differed significantly from the dialect spoken by Muslims in the city. With the dialect on the verge of extinction, documenting it and compiling a grammar became one of my top priorities as a linguist. When I began teaching at the Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages (OSRJL), I discovered a strong interest in learning this dialect. Given the lack of available learning materials, I developed my own. As they grew, I realised they could form the foundation of a textbook.
Tell us more about your background and experience.
I am a linguist who initially focused on researching Mandarin Chinese. However, when my MA supervisor learned that my family speaks the Jewish dialect of Baghdad, he encouraged me to pursue my PhD on the subject – and I did. I earned my PhD from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, while also spending two years at Heidelberg University, where I honed my skills in Arabic dialectology. Since completing my PhD, I have expanded my research to other Judeo-Arabic dialects across Mesopotamia, such as the Jewish dialect of ˁĀna. My current research project at Freie Universität in Berlin is dedicated to documenting as many Jewish dialects of Arabic in Mesopotamia as possible before they disappear, and to writing a comparative grammar of these dialects. This work aims to help reconstruct the history of some of these Jewish communities through their linguistic remnants.
How and why did you get into this subject area?
I have always been fascinated by languages, which led me to pursue academic degrees in Linguistics. As mentioned earlier, I initially focused on researching Mandarin Chinese. I never considered that Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic, the language I grew up hearing and speaking, was a subject worthy of research. Fortunately, my PhD supervisor, Eran Cohen, opened my eyes to this incredible field of study.
Why did you choose to publish your work Open Access?
I believe that knowledge should not be limited to academic circles, especially when so many people are eager to learn about their mother tongue and heritage. OSRJL has done an excellent job of making this knowledge accessible online, free of charge, and available globally through teaching. I want to contribute by offering this open-access textbook, ensuring that anyone, anywhere, can freely access this valuable information.
What do you see as the most exciting future directions and potential breakthroughs in your field, and how do you envision your research contributing to a deeper understanding of the world?
My research is focused on documenting and analysing the Jewish Arabic dialects of Mesopotamia before they disappear, with the goal of creating a comprehensive comparative grammar that can help trace a common linguistic ancestor, or ancestors, for these dialects. By preserving and studying these linguistic remnants, I hope to contribute valuable insights into the history of Jewish communities in Mesopotamia, offering historians linguistic evidence as a kind of archaeological relics to better understand the cultural and historical journey of these communities.
What do you think sets your approach apart from others in your field, and how do you stay innovative?
I follow the methodology established by German dialectologists decades ago in the field of Arabic dialectology. While the field has evolved, the core principle remains: any statement or conclusion must be based on real data, and real data is gathered through fieldwork with native speakers of the dialect. However, when it comes to Jewish Arabic dialects, the work becomes more complex. Few native speakers remain, and those who do have often been separated from their Judeo-Arabic mother tongue for decades. As a result, my work focuses not just on documenting these dialects but on attempting to reconstruct them. This approach is more challenging but also far more fascinating – much like detective work.
Surprise us with something unexpected you encountered in your research for this book.
As a textbook, it’s fairly straightforward academically, and the content didn’t present any major surprises. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming positive feedback and support I received from students, colleagues and staff at OSRJL, UCL Press and other organisations dedicated to Jewish languages and heritage worldwide. It’s truly heartwarming to know that this dialect holds such importance for so many people across the globe.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a career in your field, and what skills or qualities do you think are most important for success?
The field is evolving, as in a few decades there will no longer be any informants available for interviews. Therefore, students in the coming decade must prioritise field research before time runs out. This work demands patience and strong interpersonal skills. In two decades, however, students will need to shift their focus to other research resources, primarily written ones. Reconstructing dialects through written sources is an area that has only been marginally explored, yet it holds significant potential.
What do you do to stay motivated and inspired in your work, and how do you maintain a positive attitude even in challenging situations?
I am deeply inspired by my students and their passion for learning and speaking this language, even though it may not be particularly useful in a practical sense. Hearing them speak this dialect is truly a pleasure. For those learning it for heritage reasons, I admire their determination to embrace a language that was marginalised in their childhood. It helps them heal from that experience and take pride in their heritage. In my research, I am driven by the knowledge that I am preserving the Jewish dialects of Mesopotamia for future generations, who will not have the opportunity to hear it from native speakers. On a personal level, every small discovery in the reconstruction of these dialects brings me immense happiness.
What is something you are never asked, but wish you were?
I don’t have a clear answer to this question, but it reminds me of something I’m often asked, especially by those close to me: why is this research important? I think when people imagine academic work, they picture breakthroughs in medicine or astrophysics, where the benefits seem more obvious (although, if they saw the level of detail these fields delve into, they might ask the same question). I wish people would place more value on their own history, culture and language. Without textbooks like this, a vital piece of our identity could disappear within a few decades.
About the author
Dr Assaf Bar-Moshe gained his PhD from the Department of Linguistics and the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at the Hebrew University. His main area of interest is Jewish Arabic dialects in Mesopotamia. Having dedicated years to the research of the Jewish dialects of Baghdad and ˁĀna, Dr Bar-Moshe is currently working in Freie Universität, Berlin on documenting additional dialects towards a comparative analysis of Jewish Arabic dialects in the region. Dr Bar-Moshe is also teaching courses in Iraqi Judeo-Arabic at the Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages.