A calque, also referred to as a loan translation, represents a linguistic phenomenon where a word or phrase from one language is translated directly into another language, maintaining the literal meaning of each component. Unlike loanwords, which retain their original form in the target language, calques undergo translation on a word-for-word basis. This process often leads to the adoption of new vocabulary while preserving the essence of the original language’s expression.
For instance, the term “skyscraper” in English is a calque derived from the French word “gratte-ciel,” where “gratte” means “scrape” and “ciel” means “sky.” Instead of borrowing the exact word from French, English speakers translated the components into “sky” and “scraper,” creating a new term while staying true to the original meaning. Similarly, “brainwash” is a calque from the Chinese term “xǐ nǎo,” which directly translates to “wash brain.”
Calques serve as fascinating examples of how languages influence each other and evolve over time. They demonstrate the adaptability of languages to incorporate foreign concepts while still reflecting the cultural and linguistic nuances of the originating language.
(Response: Yes, a calque is a type of loanword that involves translating a word or phrase from one language into another language literally, on a word-for-word basis.)