How and why did I decide to study Ladino in Seattle?

People often ask me how someone who's not Sephardic -- not even Jewish at all -- and not from around here ended up studying Ladino in Seattle. It was sort of by accident! I am fortunate to have had two professors teach me about Ladino while I was working on my master's degree in Spanish at the University of Washington, and I was introduced to group of speakers in Seattle called the Ladineros. After one meeting with the Ladineros, I was hooked -- not only on the language, but also, more importantly, on the speech community. Seattle Ladino speakers are the reason I study this language. They're generous and welcoming, and I could not have asked for better teachers! You can learn more about who the speakers are here.

About me

I'm currently working as a Linguist at Facebook in the Seattle area. I graduated from the University of Washington with a Ph.D. in Linguistics in 2019. My dissertation focused on the phonology, morphology, and sociolinguistics of Seattle Ladino. I wrote my master's thesis on the sociolinguistics of Seattle Ladino in 2014. Over the course of 6 years of research, I made dozens of recordings with native and heritage speakers of Ladino in Seattle, Buenos Aires, and Los Angeles.

Education

Ph.D. Linguistics, University of Washington, 2019

Dissertation (2019): “Productivity, influence, and evolution: The complex language shift of Modern Ladino" | PDF

M.A. Linguistics, University of Washington, 2017

M.A. Hispanic Studies, University of Washington, 2014

Thesis (2014): "The Last Generation of Native Ladino Speakers? Judeo-Spanish and the Seattle Sephardic Community" | PDF

B.A. Latin American Studies, New York University, 2012

Publications

FitzMorris, M. (2016). “Language mixing in Seattle Ladino: Influence or interference?” In Soomekh, S., ed. Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews in America. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

FitzMorris, M. (2015). “Language shift and speakers’ attitudes in Seattle Ladino.” In Kirschen, B., ed. Judeo-Spanish and the Making of a Community. Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.