Assimilation of borrowings

Assimilation of a loan word is a partial or total conformation to the phonetical, grammatical and morphological standards of the target language and its semantic system.

The assimilation degree depends on the length of the period during which the word has been used in the target language; upon its importance for communication purposes and its frequency.

Grammatical adaptation consists in a complete change of the former paradigm of the borrowed word (i. e. system of the grammatical forms peculiar to it as a part of speech). Semantic adaptation is adjustment to the system of meanings of the vocabulary.

Completely assimilated loan words are found in all layers of older borrowings, follow all morphological, phonetical and orthographic standards and take an active part in word formation.

e.g.Latin: street, wall, wine, cheese

Scandinavian :husband, fellow, gate, take, ill, root, wing, wrong

French: table, face, figure, chair, matter, finish

Partially assimilated loan words:

• semantically: e.g. sombrero, toreador rickshaw, sherbet

• grammatically: e.g. crisis – crises, datum – data

• phonetically: e.g. cartoon, police, machine

• graphically: e.g. buffet, coup, debris

Unassimilated loan words or barbarisms are not assimilated in any way. There are corresponding English equivalents,

e.g.Italian addio – good-bye

Latin ad libitum – at pleasure

It is often the case that a word is borrowed by several languages. Such international words usually convey concepts which are significant in the field of communication,

e.g. philosophy, mathematics, physics, music, theatre, drama, tragedy, comedy, politics, policy, revolution, progress, democracy, atomic, antibiotic, radio, television, sputnik; sports terms, fruits and foodstuffs imported from exotic countries.