Nevaldomas skolinimasis kaip kalbos nykimo požymis
Uncontrolled Borrowing as a Sign of Language Loss

Summary/Abstract: Based on contemporary – late 20th century–early 21st century – dialectological material from the Lithuanian islands in Belarus attributed to the Southern Aukštaitian subdialect (Voranava district, Grodno region), the article analyses the current situation of the Lithuanian language and its change. The research centres on lexical loanwords from Belarusian, Polish and Russian languages. It attempts to determine whether the abundance of Slavic loanwords is the outcome of natural language change or its loss (death). Apparent-time language processes are analysed in the study: the present-day language of informants of several generations is studied and compared. The study also describes the factors changing the nation’s language and culture. It points out the major aspects which determined and accelerated the decay of the Lithuanian language. The study shows the asymmetry of borrowing: words easily transition from one language to another; language elements are increasingly less adapted; an entire passage of another language is used in the same discourse alternately. The article presents an in-depth study of the problem of adequacy of semantic expression of loan translations and loanwords used in the subdialects of Lithuanians residing in the active contact zone; it is aimed to grasp the directions of semantic changes.

• Details
• Contents