Practice 6

Translation-Loans

Etymological Doublets

The words shirt and skirt etymologically descend from the same root. Shirt is a native word, and skirt (as the initial sk suggests) is a Scandinavian borrowing. Their phonemic shape is different, and yet there is a certain resemblance which reflects their common origin. Their meanings are also different but easily associated: they both denote articles of clothing.

Such words as these two originating from the same etymological source, but differing in phonemic shape and in meaning are called etymological doublets.

They may enter the vocabulary by different routes. Some of these pairs, consist of a native word and a borrowed word: shrew, n. (E.) — screw, n. (Sc).

Others are represented by two borrowings from different languages which are historically descended from the same root: senior (Lat.) – sir (Fr.), canal (Lat.) – channel (Fr.), captain (Lat.) – chief tan (Fr.).

Still others were borrowed from the same language twice, but in different periods: corpse [ko:ps] (Norm. Fr.) – corps [ko:] (Par. Fr.), travel (Norm. Fr.) – travail (Par. Fr.), cavalry (Norm. Fr.) – chivalry (Par. Fr.), gaol (Norm. Fr.) – jail (Par. Fr.).

Etymological triplet s (i. e. groups of three words of common root) occur rarer, but here are at least two examples: hospital (Lat.) – hostel (Norm. Fr.) – hotel (Par. Fr.); to capture (Lat.) – to catch (Norm. Fr.) – to chase (Par. Fr.).

A doublet may also consist of a shortened word and the one from which it was derived: history – story, fantasy – fancy, fanatic – fan, defense – fence, courtesy — curtsy, shadow — shade.

By translation-loans we indicate borrowings of a special kind. They are not taken into the vocabulary of another language more or less in the same phonemic shape in which they have been functioning in their own language, but undergo the process of translation. It is quite obvious that it is only compound words (i. e. words of two or more stems) which can be subjected to such an operation, each stem being translated separately: masterpiece (from Germ. Meisterstuck), wonder child (from Germ. Wunderkind), first dancer (from Ital. prima-ballerina). During the 2nd World War the German word Blitzkrieg was borrowed into English in two different forms: the translation-loan lightning-war and the direct borrowings blitzkrieg and blitz.

Consider your answers to the following:

1. Comment on the main characteristic features of the native words in Modern English.

2. Comment on the term “borrowing”.

3. Give a summary view of the different ways in which the foreign element penetrated into the English vocabulary.

4. What are the basic criteria of borrowings?

5. Dwell on the phenomenon of assimilation of loan-words. What stages of assimilation do borrowings go through?

6. What words are considered to be etymological doublets? Provide examples of your own.

7. What is meant by the translation loans?

8. What is a cognate? Give several examples of your own.

9. Read the following jokes. Explain the etymology of the
italicized words. If necessary consult a dictionary.

a) A man was at a theatre. He was sitting behind two women whose continuous chatter became more than he could bear. Leaning forward, he tapped one of them on the shoulder.

"Pardon me, madam," he said, "but I can't hear." "You are not supposed to – this is a private conversation," she hit back.

b) Sonny: Father, what do they make asphalt roads of?

Father: That makes a thousand questions you've asked today. Do give me a little peace. What do you think would happen if I had asked my father so many questions?

Sonny: You might have learnt how to answer some of mine.

10. Identify the period of the following Latin borrowings; point out the structural and semantic peculiarities of the words from each period.

Wall, cheese, intelligent, candle, major, moderate, priest, school, street, cherry, music, phenomenon, nun, kitchen, plum, pear, pepper, datum, cup, status, wine, philosophy, method.

11. Read the following extract. Which of the italicized borrowings came from Latin and which from French?

Connoisseurs of the song will be familiar with the name of Anna Quentin, distinguished blues singer and versatile vocalist. Miss Quentin's admirers, who have been regretting her recent retirement from the lime­light, will hear with mixed feelings the report that she is bound to Hollywood. Miss Quentin, leaving for a short stay in Paris, refused either to confirm or to deny a rumor that she had signed a long-term contract for work in America.

12. Think of 10 —15 examples of Ukrainian/Russian borrowings in English and English borrowings in Ukrainian/Russian.

13. Read the following text. Identify the etymology of as many words as you can.

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