Here's why Yiddish uses a modified Hebrew alphabet:
* Historical reasons: Yiddish developed in medieval Europe among Ashkenazi Jews, who already used the Hebrew alphabet for their religious texts.
* Linguistic basis: While Yiddish is a distinct language from Hebrew, it shares a significant portion of its vocabulary with Hebrew, especially religious terms. Using the Hebrew alphabet for writing made it easier to integrate Hebrew words and terms into Yiddish.
* Practicality: At the time, the Hebrew alphabet was the most familiar writing system for Jews in Europe. Adapting it for Yiddish allowed for easier communication and literacy among Jewish communities.
It's important to note that the Yiddish alphabet isn't a direct copy of Hebrew. It has been modified with:
* Vowels: Yiddish uses vowel letters derived from the Hebrew script to represent vowel sounds.
* Additional letters: Yiddish has several additional letters, like "ayin" (ע) and "aleph" (א), which are used to represent specific sounds in Yiddish.
Therefore, the Yiddish alphabet is a unique system that draws inspiration from Hebrew while also incorporating its own linguistic needs. It's a testament to the history and evolution of the language, reflecting its close relationship with Hebrew while maintaining its own distinct identity.