Abstract
In recent years, Sweden has emerged as an unexpected focal point on the global Yiddish map. In 2000, Yiddish was granted national minority language status under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, alongside Sami, Finnish, Meänkieli, and Romani Chib. This recognition has led to substantial funding and institutional support, transforming the landscape of Yiddish language education, cultural initiatives, and minority-language media. Consequently, revitalisation of Yiddish in Sweden takes places under conditions that are very different from those in other countries. Despite more than two decades of official recognition, little academic research has examined the role of Yiddish in Sweden, its significance for Jewish identity, or the impact of its minority language status.
Based on her fieldwork in Stockholm, Christensen’s research examines the effect of the status on the role of Yiddish at individual, communal, and state levels, and engages with critical heritage studies, language revitalisation research, and minority policy analysis. How does the state’s role as stakeholder shape the Yiddish revitalisation efforts in Sweden? How are Swedish Yiddish speakers responding to the challenges and opportunities brought about by this unique collaboration? Which language ideologies are promoted, countered and reconceptualized as a part of this work? Competing notions of what Yiddish is and can be in contemporary Sweden influence both revitalization efforts and broader discussions of linguistic self-determination, representation, and identity.
Bio:
Anita Christensen is a doctoral fellow at the Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society. She holds master's degrees in Jewish studies from UCL and the University of Cambridge, and has been a fellow at Harvard University’s Center for Jewish Studies.