Linguistic Variety of Judaeo-Arabic in Letters from the Cairo Genizah

A comprehensive linguistic analysis of Judaeo-Arabic letters from the Cairo Genizah reveals significant insights into the evolution of Arabic dialects and epistolary language use. This study distinguishes between formal and vernacular features, providing a diachronic description that captures the unique linguistic characteristics of this ethnolect. The findings highlight the role of Judaeo-Arabic as a primary source for understanding language dynamics within medieval and early modern Jewish communities in Islamic Cairo. By contrasting letters from different periods, the research offers valuable data for historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, and Arabic language studies.

Wagner, E.-M. (2010). Linguistic Variety of Judaeo-Arabic in Letters from the Cairo Genizah. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004187764.i-270