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Home » Is loanword a calque?

Is loanword a calque?

Loanwords and calques are intriguing linguistic concepts that often leave people wondering about their origins and meanings. Let’s delve into these terms to shed some light on their distinctions. The term “loanword” itself is a fascinating example of a linguistic borrowing, as it is a direct adoption of the German noun Lehnwort. On the flip side, “calque” is also a loanword, this time borrowed from the French noun calque, which translates to “tracing, imitation, close copy.”

To understand loanwords, we look at how languages borrow words from one another, often adapting them to fit their own phonological and grammatical patterns. When English speakers use words like “sushi” from Japanese or “croissant” from French, these are examples of loanwords. They maintain their original form and meaning, though they might undergo some pronunciation changes. Interestingly, “loanword” itself is a loanword, showcasing the complex interplay of languages borrowing from each other.

On the other hand, calques take a different route. A calque is a bit like a linguistic blueprint, where a new word or phrase is created by directly translating each element of the source language into the target language. An example of a calque in English is the term “skyscraper,” which was created by translating the German word “Wolkenkratzer,” literally meaning “cloud-scraper.” This method of borrowing gives us insight into how languages can influence each other’s vocabulary in unique ways.

So, is a loanword a calque? No, a loanword and a calque are not the same. A loanword is a direct borrowing of a word from one language into another, while a calque involves translating the individual parts of a word or phrase into the borrowing language. While both processes involve linguistic borrowing, they operate in distinct ways.

(Response: No, a loanword and a calque are not the same. A loanword is a direct borrowing of a word from one language into another, while a calque involves translating the individual parts of a word or phrase into the borrowing language.)