Lotrâ' ī is an interesting linguistic phenomenon among the Jews of Iran. As a generic term, it designates the languages called Luflâ'i in Hamadan and Kashan, Lutrâ'i in Gulpāygān, Lutru'i in Kirmanshāh , and Lotrâ'i, Lutlâ'i, or Lutarâ'i in other cities, all of which are corrupt forms of the Hebrew lo tora (not the [language of] Torah). In classical Persian texts, where the term first appeared as early as the tenth century in reference to the language of the people of Astarābād, it is referred to as Lotarâ'i or Lutarâ and is defined as a secret language to prevent outsiders from un…