Multilingualism and the Jews of Byzantium in the Middle Period

The Jewish minority in Byzantium in the ninth to twelfth centuries was mainly Greek-speaking, as is now clear from the Cairo Genizah discoveries. However, Greek education was rare, and it was Hebrew that served as the written and learned language, as well as for prayer and bible reading. A unique, artificial form of Greek was used to translate bible readings: it combined Greek vocabulary with Hebrew syntax. Aramaic was used in synagogues for specific liturgical purposes. Latin is attested locally in south Italy, and there is evidence of a use of Arabic in the east, mainly among immigrants.