Introduction

This introductory section presents the theoretical framework, scope, methodology, and chapter division that underpin this volume. First, the book is introduced as a scholarly work that investigates the revitalisation of Ladino (Judezmo) on the Internet. It is argued that nowadays the global Ladino-speaking community connects first and foremost online, its digital development over the last 25 years having led to a qualitatively different new sociolinguistic stage of the Sephardic diaspora, namely: Sepharad 4. Second, this introduction discusses the volume’s connection with Revivalistics as examined by Ghil’ad Zuckermann, with a focus on the following aspects: transdisciplinarity, comparative analysis vis-à-vis further endangered Jewish languages (Yiddish), prioritising community engagement, provincialising prescriptivism, stressing the centrality of language to nationhood, the ‘talknological’ revolution, transvaluation, and ethical and utilitarian reasons to revive endangered languages. Lastly, the chapter breakdown is presented, which is predicated on the subdivision of Ladino on the Internet into the web versions 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, each of them corresponding to the three main sections of the book. Within each of these segments, the chapter order is chronological, based on the emergence of the main Ladino-speaking community/content in the platform in question.