1. Alphabet:
* The basic Hebrew alphabet is used. This includes 22 consonants, with some letters having different forms depending on their position in a word.
* Vowel points are used. Yiddish uses a system of vowel points, called "niqqud," to indicate vowel sounds. However, this system is often simplified or even omitted in everyday writing.
* Diacritics: Yiddish uses some additional diacritics, such as the "trema" (¨) over vowels to indicate a slight change in pronunciation.
2. Writing Direction:
* Written from right to left. Like Hebrew, Yiddish is written from right to left.
3. Special Characters:
* The "Yud" (י) is frequently used as a vowel. In Yiddish, the letter "yud" (י) can be used as a vowel, similar to how the letter "i" is used in English.
* A few additional letters. Yiddish uses a few additional letters from the Hebrew alphabet that aren't commonly used in modern Hebrew. These include "ayin" (ע), "tsadi" (צ), and "shin" (ש).
* The "kh" sound. The sound "kh" (like the "ch" in the Scottish word "loch") is represented by a special character called "kuf with a dot" (כּ).
Example of Yiddish Writing:
Here's a simple example of Yiddish writing, showing both vowel points and diacritics:
שלום עליכם (Shalom Aleichem) - "Peace be with you"
How Yiddish Writing Looks in Practice:
* Everyday writing: In everyday writing, Yiddish is often written without vowel points, making it look very similar to Hebrew.
* Formal texts: Formal texts, such as religious texts and dictionaries, often use a full system of vowel points and diacritics.
Learning to Read Yiddish:
* Knowledge of Hebrew: A basic understanding of the Hebrew alphabet will be helpful, but not essential.
* Online resources: There are many online resources available to help you learn to read and write Yiddish.
Overall: Yiddish writing is essentially Hebrew script with some unique modifications and the added complexity of vowel points. With a bit of practice, it's not difficult to learn.