English borrowings in the Russian language is a phenomenon that has become particularly prominent in recent decades, especially with the spread of the internet, globalisation and the development of technology. In fact, the Russian language appeared as a result of a long interaction between different East Slavonic dialects that existed in the Great Russian territory since the 6th century AD and the Church Slavonic language, which emerged as a consequence of the adaptation of the first Christian books. English, as an international language of science, business, technology and culture, has a huge influence on many languages, including Russian.
The main areas of borrowing are:
1. Technology and the Internet:
Due to the development of the Internet and digital technologies, many English terms have entered the Russian language. These borrowings concern both everyday activities and complex scientific concepts: Сайт (site), Гугл (Google), Хэштег (hashtag).
2. Fashion and Culture:
Borrowings are also used extensively in fashion and entertainment. Many terms related to design, style and new trends come from the English language: Тренд (trend), лук (look), шоппинг (shopping).
3. Social networks and media:
The rapid development of social networks and media has also led to the borrowing of terms related to their functioning: Фолловер (follower), пост (post).
Characteristics of Borrowings:
– Direct borrowings: These are words or phrases that are used in the Russian language without changes or with minimal adaptations. For example, the word ‘бренд’ or ‘менеджмент’.
– Adapted borrowings: These are words that have undergone phonetic and morphological adaptations to better conform to the rules of the Russian language. For example, the word ‘шоппинг’ or ‘селфи’.
– Calques: These are loanwords in which elements of a foreign word are translated. For example, the word ‘интернет-магазин’ is a calque from the English word ‘online store’.
Reasons for borrowings:
- Globalization and international interaction: The modern world is increasingly interconnected and many areas of life, such as business, technology, culture, require the use of an international language.
- Lack of exact analogues in Russian: For a number of concepts there are no similar words in Russian, so borrowing becomes a convenient solution.
- Information technologies and the Internet: The emergence of new technologies creates the need for new terms, which are often borrowed from English.
Criticism and Controversy:
There are also criticisms of such a process. Some believe that excessive borrowing from English may lead to a decrease in the richness and expressiveness of the Russian language. They are concerned about the loss of uniqueness and originality of the language, as well as insufficient adaptation of borrowings. However, on the other hand, borrowings are a natural process for any language that lives and develops.
In Russian, as in other languages, borrowings from English are often modified in the process of use, sometimes losing part of their original meaning or acquiring new connotations.
