A new vision for Israeli Hebrew : theoretical and practical implications of analyzing Israel's main language as a semi-engineered Semito-European hybrid language

Abstract

A language is an abstract ensemble of idiolects – as well as sociolects, dialects and so on – rather than an entity per se. It is more like a species than an organism. Still, the genetic classification of Israeli Hebrew as a consistent entity has preoccupied linguists since the language emerged about 120 years ago. As a consequence, Israeli Hebrew affords insights into the politics and evolution not only of language, but also of linguistics. The author of this article maintains that the language spoken in Israel today is a semi-engineered Semito-European hybrid language. Whatever one chooses to call it, one should acknowledge, and celebrate, its complexity.