Loanwords and loan translations

What are loanwords and loan translations or calques

Have you ever wished somebody ‘bon appétit’? Then maybe you want to read more about loanwords and loan translations.

• Or have you ever bad-mouthed anyone? Then loanwords and loan translations are for you.
• Maybe you have felt a pang of schadenfreude at another’s a misfortune?.
• Oh, I know! Have you ever had a drink in a beer garden?

You may not answer YES! to all these questions (although I bet you do!), but at least you understand them because loanwords and loan translations are essential.

If so, it means that you’re already familiar with the use of loanwords and calques.

Indeed, you may not have heard of the term ‘calque’ or ‘loanword’ before, but you undoubtedly use these linguistic devices, probably daily.

To better understand loanwords and loan translations:

• A calque (otherwise known as a loan translation): is a word or phrase taken from one language and translated literally, word-for-word, into another language.
• Whereas a loanword: is a foreign word or expression maintained in its original form in the target language.

Here we will look at some typical examples of loanwords and loan translations

⤷ and explore the advantages or problems of using them in translation.

A loanword (borrowing) vs. loan translation (calque)

First of all, let’s clarify what type of word or expression qualifies as a calque and loanword.

The critical aspect to consider here is:

• whether or not the expression has been translated into the target language,
• or if it appears in its original ‘foreign’ form in the target language.

English makes use of many French words in everyday conversation, such as:

• déjà vu
• façade
• hors d’oeuvre
• etc… There are many, many more!

If the meanings of these words are widely known, then they are generally not italicized.

However, suppose a more obscure loanword is used that is likely to be unfamiliar to the reader (such as the German zeitgeist, meaning ‘spirit of the age’). In that case,

⤷ it is usually presented in italics.

Now let’s think about the following expressions:

• Adam’s apple
• Blue blood

Both of these terms have been translated literally from the language in which they first appeared, respectively:

• French pomme d’Adam
• Spanish sangre azul

This literal translation and subsequent use in English renders them calques or loan translations.

Calques and loanwords in translation

• The ever-increasing importance of the English language,
• combined with the dominance of Silicon Valley in the field of technological research and development,
• not to mention the relentless growth of the ‘Big Four’ tech companies,
• has resulted in English becoming the de facto language of technology.

Indeed, use the words:

• podcasts
• software
• wifi

⤷ To people in countries, the world over and the chances are that they’ll understand what you mean whether they have a high, intermediate, or beginner level of English, or even if they can’t speak it at all.

Similarly:

• everyone knows how to take a selfie;
• you’d probably use your smartphone.

⤷ These words are examples of loanwords: they started off life in English, but other languages have appropriated them.

Whether or not you consider this a good thing is a matter of opinion.

You may think that given the unrelenting speed of technological change, it is probably a good thing that we don’t need to find new translations each time a new concept emerges.

⤷ Or maybe this is another example of the linguistic hegemony of the English language over more minor languages, whose importance is eroded further still.

Beware of poor calques

If you subscribe to the latter, then you’d probably favor the use of calques.

Using loan translations can add to the richness of your language without peppering your translation with foreign words.

Be careful, though! ⚠️

While linguists may not have any issues when it comes to understanding a word-for-word translation of a foreign term,

⤷ it may not be so simple for the layman.

This is especially the case when they refer to specific fields of expertise such as legal or pharmaceutical.

Poor use of calques:

• may sound very unnatural
• and could betray a lack of target-language knowledge,

⤷ on the part of the translator, whether justified or not.

As ever, identifying your target audience is key.

So, for those of you that are trying to find elegant solutions to complex source language terminology, we have a simple message for you:

Ｂｏｎ ｃｏｕｒａｇｅ！

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