LADINO IPA GUIDE FOR SINGERS
I have created the tables below to serve as a diction guide for those who are interested in performing Sephardic songs. I would like to emphasize that the consonants and vowels listed below, as well as their IPA transcriptions, are by no means an attempt to achieve a standardized spelling or pronunciation system for Ladino. My intention here is merely to help singers, who would like to perform this repertoire, in deciphering the texts they will be dealing with. Please note that there are exceptions to the rules presented below, as well as differences in pronunciation from community to community. The tables below are a fusion of information presented in several sources, as well as my personal experience with the language as a member of the Turkish Sephardim community.
Lori Şen, D.M.A., M.Ed.
I have created the tables below to serve as a diction guide for those who are interested in performing Sephardic songs. I would like to emphasize that the consonants and vowels listed below, as well as their IPA transcriptions, are by no means an attempt to achieve a standardized spelling or pronunciation system for Ladino. My intention here is merely to help singers, who would like to perform this repertoire, in deciphering the texts they will be dealing with. Please note that there are exceptions to the rules presented below, as well as differences in pronunciation from community to community. The tables below are a fusion of information presented in several sources, as well as my personal experience with the language as a member of the Turkish Sephardim community.
Lori Şen, D.M.A., M.Ed.
SOURCES:
Edery, Gerard. “The Gerard Edery Sephardic Song Book: for Voice and Guitar.” Owings Mills, MD.:Tara Publications, 2003.
Harris, Tracy K. Death of a Language: The History of Judeo-Spanish. London and Toronto: Associated University Presses, 1994, pp. 279-280.
Horowitz, Joshua & Saltiel, Aron. Sephardisches Liederbuch: 51 Judenspanische Lieder = The Sephardic Songbook: 51 Judeo-Spanish Songs. Frankfurt: C.F. Peters, 2001, p.XII.
Meizel, Katherine Lynn. Eastern Mediterranean Sephardic Tradition in Art Song. Ann Arbor, Michigan: UMI Dissertation Services, 2004, pp.59-62.
Varol, Marie-Christine. Manual of Judeo-Spanish: language and culture. Bethesda, MD: University Press of Maryland, 2008, p. 27.
Wall, Joan, et al. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French, and Spanish Pronunciation. Second ed. Redmond, WA: Diction for Singers.com, 2012.
Edery, Gerard. “The Gerard Edery Sephardic Song Book: for Voice and Guitar.” Owings Mills, MD.:Tara Publications, 2003.
Harris, Tracy K. Death of a Language: The History of Judeo-Spanish. London and Toronto: Associated University Presses, 1994, pp. 279-280.
Horowitz, Joshua & Saltiel, Aron. Sephardisches Liederbuch: 51 Judenspanische Lieder = The Sephardic Songbook: 51 Judeo-Spanish Songs. Frankfurt: C.F. Peters, 2001, p.XII.
Meizel, Katherine Lynn. Eastern Mediterranean Sephardic Tradition in Art Song. Ann Arbor, Michigan: UMI Dissertation Services, 2004, pp.59-62.
Varol, Marie-Christine. Manual of Judeo-Spanish: language and culture. Bethesda, MD: University Press of Maryland, 2008, p. 27.
Wall, Joan, et al. Diction for Singers: A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French, and Spanish Pronunciation. Second ed. Redmond, WA: Diction for Singers.com, 2012.
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