off-topic linguistics question

[David Bergdahl]

My sister-in-law asks my advice on this one: can someone help?  Thanks in
advance.

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2003 3:29 PM +0200
From: Clapsaddle <clapsaddle at barak-online.net>
To: David Bergdahl <einstein at frognet.net>
Subject: linguistics question

Hi David,

For the first time in 20+ years, I have a professional question to ask you!
Maybe, though, you'll have to ask a colleague who specializes in Yiddish
about this one.

I just re-read a comment I received many years ago on the name "Sabad."
It's a very rare variation of "Shabad" or "Szabad," which are actually
pretty common.  But I have never come across another "Sabad" anywhere in my
19th century research.  It does appear in the Vilna Ghetto lists of WW II,
but nowhere else.

The man who commented on the name, Dr. David L. Gold, said that it is "the
sabesdiker-losn" form, whereas "Shabad" is "the non-sabesdiker-losn" form
of Northeastern Yiddish.  Aside from being hilariously funny, what does
that mean?  And what is the significance of using one rather than the
other?  I don't think there could be a geographical significance, since
virtually all Sabads-Shabads I've ever seen--with the exception of a few
from Bylo-Russia--came from Vilna, the city or the district.

Anyhow, if you can sort this out or give me Dr. Gold's current address, I'd
appreciate it.

Love,
Carol

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