This project examines sociolinguistic variation in the endangered Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) community of Istanbul, focusing on intergenerational change and language contact. The study outlines key phonological, morphosyntactic, and lexical features of Judeo-Spanish and analyzes linguistic data from three generations of speakers. Supported by an SREU UW–Eau Claire research grant, the project focuses on two variables: the devoicing of /z/ and adjective placement within the noun phrase. The dataset consists of publicly available recorded interviews with members of the Istanbul Judeo-Spanish community, including speakers involved in language revitalization initiatives. Using qualitative and quasi-quantitative methods, the analysis examines how generation, bilingualism, and speaker sex are associated with patterns of variation in Judeo-Spanish. The study also explores bidirectional cross-linguistic influence, considering the effects of Turkish on Judeo-Spanish as well as possible influence from Judeo-Spanish on Turkish. By situating these patterns within a long-term contact setting, the project contributes to broader discussions of the dynamics between minoritized and majority languages.
