Judeo-Iraqi Arabic (, ), also known as Iraqi Judeo-Arabic and Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic, is a variety of Arabic spoken by Iraqi Jews.
History The language originated among Jews living in various regions of Iraq. With the migration of Iraqi Jews to other countries, the language spread to those new locations, mainly Israel, the US, the UK, Canada and Australia.
In Israel, the language was widely used among Jews who emigrated from Iraq, and to this day, many Israelis, including those whose parents emigrated from Iraq, continue to use it.
The language was also used in the Baghdadi community in India and other communities of Jewish Iraqi immigrants in the far east.
In 1992, there were 120 Judeo-Iraqi Arabic speakers remaining in Iraq. In 2018, there were speakers of the language in Israel. The best known variety is Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic, although other dialects were spoken in Mosul and elsewhere.
The vast majority of Iraqi Jews have relocated to Israel and switched to Modern Hebrew as their first language.
The 2014 film Farewell Baghdad is mostly in the Baghdad dialect. It was the first movie filmed in Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic.
The language is being taught at the Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages, by Dr Assaf Bar Moshe, whose family emigrated to Israel from Iraq and who speaks it as his mother tongue. His textbook Baghdadi Judeo-Arabic, an introductory text is available as an open source textbook.
Iraqi Jewish author Samantha Ellis wrote a book about Judeo-Iraqi Arabic, her mother tongue, called Chopping Onions on my Heart (in the UK) and Always Carry Salt (in the US) which was shortlisted for the Wingate Prize.
Sample text Judeo-Iraqi ArabicTransliterationEnglishOur father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever.
References
External links Writing sample Speaking sample OLAC resources in and about the Judeo-Iraqi Arabic language