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loanword

linguistics
Also known as: borrowing

Quick Summary

In linguistics, a loanword is a word adopted from one language into another and at least partially naturalized. This process, known as borrowing, is a natural part of language evolution, except in extremely isolated communities. Loanwords often arise when new concepts, products, or technologies are encountered through contact with speakers of other languages.

Examples include "tea" from Chinese, "coffee" from Arabic, and "tomato" from American Indian languages. While loanwords are typically assimilated into the borrowing language's pronunciation and grammar, some may retain traces of their origin. Languages vary in their acceptance of loanwords, with some preferring to create descriptive compounds from existing native words. Despite efforts to resist them, loanwords are seen by many as enriching a language's flexibility and vocabulary.1

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