EXTENSION OF CONCEPTUAL CHARACTERISTICS AS A WAY OF ADAPTATION OF BORROWINGS TO THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE

Abstract

The article researches the semantic characteristics change of borrowed words in the process of their functioning in Russian language. In particular, the paper analyses the semantic structure of the le xemes undergone the extension of the conceptual characteristics. Such extension is considered as one of the ways of foreign lexis adaptation to the Ru ssian vocabulary. The article deals with the lexemes undergone in the history of their functioning in the target language both the concept content extension uncomplicated with another processes and the e xtension accompanied with other semantic phenom ena (conceptual characteristics narrowing, determ inologisation, folk etymology). M oreover, an interm ediary language (languages) can be present in the process of borrowing. On that ground borrowed words fall into direct and mediate. In view of it the following groups of adapted foreign lexis by Russian language are distinguished: 1. Lexemes with concept content extension unco mplicated with other semantic processes (direct and mediate). 2. Lexemes with concept content extension (direct and mediate) complicated with another semantic processes: а) meaning extension of the borrowed words is accompanied with determinologisation, when the word used to be a term loses its sector specific meaning and becomes a fact of nationwide lexis; b) meaning extension can be promoted by folk (false) etymology, which means the attempt to e xplain a word by means of associations with another inner form associatively acceptable on sound, mo rphemic or word-building structure; c) meaning e xtension can be caused by oblivion of the inner form of the word, i.e. its determinologisation, which a llows linguistic consciousness to impart new mea ning to the word.