Author Archives: Brandon Marcus

Folk Speech – Yiddish

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: Professor
Residence: Tarzana, CA
Performance Date: February 2007
Primary Language: Yiddish
Language: English

“Yenenfeldt”

English translation- “Somewhere in the middle of nowhere”

My informant first heard this phrase when at the age of twelve (circa 1967) she would be at the dinner table with her brother and parents, and her parents said something they didn’t want Sheryl and Randy to hear.  Growing up Sheryl and her brother did not know a lot of Yiddish, only English, so speaking a foreign language would allow her parents to speak in confidentiality.

This phrase is really meant to be said when one is in a place that seems like there are no surroundings besides woods.  Living in a smaller city in Arizona, Sheryl was not used to an urban city such as Los Angeles, so when she came here, anywhere that seemed like it was rural would be called “yenenfeldt” by my mother.

The reason why this is so important in Sheryl’s world today is because she still speaks a little bit of Yiddish and still holds on to her roots.  Therefore, when there are situations that arise that go with the saying she still knows, they are stated aloud.

When asked her reaction to the folk speech, my informant stated that she does not think much of it because she has heard it so much growing up.  She stated that the funniest part about the word “yenenfeldt” was the first time that I used it.  (At this point in the interview, my mother yelled to my father saying “Do you remember the 1st time Brandon said “yenenfeldt” and my father said it was “hysterical).

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Sheryl was spoken to in Yiddish during her childhood years and understood the language very well.  She knew it so well that she could talk the language fluently to anyone who understood her.  Now, as an adult, she does not speak the language anymore, so she has lost most of it.  But, with her two kids out of the house, she is eager to take a class of Yiddish, in hopes of being able to speak the Yiddish language again.

This is the one word in Yiddish that I actually use because I hear it so often; therefore, I think it is a very funny and informative Yiddish phrase.  My mom used to say it so often that I have now adapted the word yenenfeldt to my vocabulary, and use it during the right circumstances.

Folk Belief – American

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: Professor
Residence: Tarzana, CA
Performance Date: February 2007
Primary Language: Yiddish
Language: English

“You have to wait 30 minutes to go swimming or else you will get a stomach ache”

My informant first heard this phrase when at the age of seven (circa 1962) she would be swimming in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona.  The weather was extremely warm during the summer, so my informant would go swimming a few times a week in the family pool.  Sometimes my informant would hope to go swimming after lunch, but her mother would not allow it, because she thought that my informant would get a stomach ache if she did not wait until 30 minutes after eating.

This phrase is heard all over the place, because in almost every city temperatures reach a high that is warm enough to go swimming.  All children love jumping in the pool to cool off, whether it is at a summer camp or at one’s own pool.  Since my informant grew up in a town that was so hot, it was extremely common to go swimming during the summer.  Therefore, this phrase makes a lot of sense in context, because usually physical activity causes a stomachache.

The reason why this is so important in Sheryl’s world today is because she has carried it on over the generations.  She heard it from her mother, and after hearing it from her mother, she has now carried this phrase onto my brother and I.  The reason why myths continue is because they are passed on over the generations, and for this reason it is common to hear this phrase all over the United States.

When asked her reaction to the myth, my informant started off by laughing, which made the situation that much more enjoyable.  After laughing for a few seconds, Sheryl stated that she thinks that “even if you think it’s fake that since I say it so often to you guys, your myth becomes a reality.”

My view of this myth is that it is completely false.  I have gone swimming after eating a meal a few minutes prior to jumping in the pool, and I never got a stomach ache.  But, my mother is right when she says that it is said so much that everyone believes it.  I give credit to whomever started this myth because it is one that will continue to be carried on for future generations.

Folk Belief – American

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: Professor
Residence: Tarzana, CA
Performance Date: February 2007
Primary Language: Yiddish
Language: English

“If you cross your eyes, they are going to remain like that”

My informant first heard this phrase when at the age of thirteen (circa 1968) she would be upset with what her mother had to say or how her mother said something, so she would cross her eyes at her mom.  Her mother reacted by telling my informant “if you cross your eyes, they are going to remain like that.”  This sent a message to my informant to not cross her eyes, not because they would really get stuck, but because it was a sign of disrespect to cross your eyes at someone.

This phrase is heard all over the place, because in our generation it is extremely common for teenagers to have a lot of attitude and disagree with his/her parents.  It seems as though generations have changed over the years, but in terms of respect and disrespect between parents and their children, that will never change.  Teenagers have the mentality that they are as mature as his or her parents, but in actuality, this is definitely not the case.  Parents are older and wiser for a reason; they have lived through much more than their children and know what they are talking about.

The reason why this is so important in Sheryl’s world today is because she heard it from her mother.  Her mother passed away over eight years ago, so little things such as phrases her mother used to say mean a lot to her.  The reason why myths continue is because they are passed on over the generations, and for this reason it is common to hear this phrase all over the United States.

When asked her reaction to the myth, my informant chuckled and continued by saying “of course it’s not going to happen.”  My informant explained to me that it is a way of you not doing it again.  If you hear this phrase once, it will make you not cross your eyes again.  She finished the discussion by telling me it is a matter of respect.

Finally, my reaction to this myth is that it is completely false.  It is one of the dumbest myths I have ever heard, but because it is a myth, which means that someone believes it.  I am not quite sure how someone could think it is true, but nonetheless it is a myth that teaches a valuable lesson.

Food – Mexican

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Diego, CA
Performance Date: March 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Rosca- sweet circular bread with an empty middle

My informant is a first-generation American, so obviously there will be dishes carried over into his generation from the generation of his parents.  My informant’s mother is Mexican, while his father is Panamanian and Danish.  “Rosca” is a Mexican pastry that looks like a donut, and inside of it is something very sweet.  He first heard of this dish from his parents when he started speaking Spanish at the age of 2 or 3 because this dish has been served ever since he was born.  This is the fourth generation that celebrated the holiday in which “rosca” has been served.

This dish is served on “La Dia de Los Tres Reyes” (The Day of the Three Kings), which celebrates the arrival of the three wise men that showed up for Jesus’s birth.  According to my informant, inside the circular bread is a baby Jesus and whoever finds it has to throw the party for the next year.  This is a tradition that my informant hopes will be carried on through future generations.

The reason why this dish is so important in my informant’s world today is because he has a lot of pride in his culture.  Being the first man from his family born in America, my informant feels it is important to carry over the roots of his family’s culture into his American culture.  When I asked my informant what he thought about the dish and the party thrown on “The Day of the Kings,” he said it is “a lot of fun and it is a good way to get the family together.  It is also an enjoyable meal because it only happens once a year.”

From talking to my informant, I really feel as though he is extremely dedicated to his culture and family.  He believes that family and tradition are two important values in his life, and without them he would feel empty.  This shows me that my informant is religious, but at the same time, is just following his culture and enjoying the time he has every year with his family.

Ritual – American

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Diego, CA
Performance Date: March 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

When at the free throw line- 3 dribbles and a deep breath then shoot

My informant grew up playing and watching basketball, so it would make sense that he would play for his middle and upper school basketball teams.  Since my informant grew up watching basketball, he saw many different players approach the free throw line every game and do something before they let the ball out of their hands for the shot.  After watching basketball for many years, my informant developed his own technique.  It is common for players to dribble the ball and then shoot, but my informant added his own touch, “the deep breath.”  He said the reason for this method before shooting a free throw is to “give me a method before each shot to get a rhythm and make sure all free throws are consistent.”  Moreover, it is obvious that this method is done while the informant gets fouled and goes to the free throw line.

The reason why this ritual is so important in my informant’s world today is because he loves basketball.  Whether it is going outside on a warm day to play a pick-up game or just watching a game on ESPN, my informant just loves being a part of the game of basketball.  He grew up as a huge fan of the NBA, so it makes complete sense that basketball means so much to his life.  Even though his favorite hobby is music, he loves doing anything involving basketball.

When I interview my informant, I asked him what he thought of this free throw ritual and he said “it works and as long as it keeps my head in the game I will continue to use it.  My view on this ritual is that it is an extremely good idea, because basketball is such a complicated sport that one needs a certain ritual on a free throw.  If one doesn’t have a set ritual, it makes the game that much more confusing.  The free throw is the one part of the game that allows one to pause for a few seconds and take everything in.  You are standing at a line to shoot two free shots with no one guarding you, and because of this it helps to have a ritual to make this situation a calm one.