Explanation
Borrowing is contact-induced transfer of linguistic material or patterns. Lexical borrowing copies an item from another language; later integration does not erase its history. Semantic borrowing extends an existing expression’s use on a foreign-language model, while a calque reproduces a pattern using recipient-language material. These routes need separate treatment for the source links. The boundary between established borrowing and situational code-switching cannot reliably be drawn from a word’s foreign appearance alone.
Movement of thought
1. Identify material, meaning or pattern as the transferred element. 2. Examine contact and possible donor language. 3. Investigate historical evidence and integration. 4. Consider code-switching as an alternative analysis.
Scientific use case
A contact study could record earliest attestations, donor forms and distribution separately, explicitly grading uncertain derivations.
Example
In a constructed model, language B adopts luma from language A. If B instead reproduces its compound structure with its own words, another transfer route must be considered.
Counterexample
A word that looks foreign is not thereby an established borrowing. Similarity may reflect shared inheritance or coincidence.
Distinction
Distinguish inheritance, independent innovation and situational language switching. Material borrowing, semantic borrowing and calquing are related but distinct processes.
Effect on thought and perception
The concept reveals different ways language contact leaves traces in a lexicon.
Resonance
A word changes location and grows into new relations.
Provenance
Parallel source review reconciled 2026-10-07; human specialist review not claimed.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Borrowing“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G02-041. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G02-041The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.