An Annotation of Zaretski's "Praktishe Yidishe Gramatik".

Abstract

Praktishe yidishe gramatik is far more than a comprehensive compilation of facts about Yiddish--though it is that too. It was, and is, interesting for its innovativeness and for the data it presents. Sometimes the explanations for the data are only partially validated; sometimes there is only a hint of a possible explanation. As Praktishe yidishe gramatik's achievements are manifold, so the aims of this critical annotation are manifold. At times we discuss the cross references that occur within the grammar; at times we summarize the general discussion and mention more recent references to the same or similar questions. Wherever Zaretski's innovativeness bears comment, we stop and comment. We point out, for example how Zaretski uses the notion of cyclical rule in phonology and how he presages modern developments by suggesting re-write rules that convert "underlying" semantic structure into surface sentences. Wherever Zaretski presents only partial validation for his hypothesis, we subject his hypothesis to more complete validation. Thus we examine his head-modifier explanation for stress placement in noun compounds in the light of more data to see when it holds up-- and when it does not. Wherever Zaretski mentions topics that are of interest and then ab and ons them, we attempt to pursue them somewhat further. Thus, when Zartski says that certain words are used to convey the speaker's attitude, we attempt to specify the attitude and see what syntactic and semantic properties are shared by the whole class of attitudinals. and finally, wherever Zaretski presents data that need explanation and outlines a possible explanation, we pursue his suggestion to see where it leads us. Thus, we find that by using his notion of 'place' in word order and attempting to account for the data he presents, we come upon a functional explanation of word order and a new underst and ing of the notion of topic in Yiddish.