Language Information
Ladino, or known as Judaeo-Spanish, is a native language of the Sephardic Jew. Ladino is linguistically categorized as a Romance language which was derived from Old Spanish. It was first used by Jews in Spain, but after the Alhambra Decree (The Edict of Expulsion), the Jewish living in Spain were expelled and most of them moved to the area of the (then) Ottoman Empire, as well as nearby European countries.
After the founding of the Republic of Israel in 1947, many Sephardic Jews immigrated into the country and Israel is now home to the majority of modern Ladino speakers.
Ladino is officially recognized as a minority language in Israel, France and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ladino is not currently taught at Indiana University, but it is occasionally available to IU students via the BTAA CourseShare program.