Languages develop and change all the time.
They are influenced by other languages, or new technologies add new words and phrases.
These are categorised by linguisticians as "loan words" or "loan translations".
[Image courtesy of Google Play]
SPANISH
Spanish has loaned fiesta, patio, plaza and siesta to a number of other languages, for instance. Thes are all "loan words".
A good example of a "loan translation", from the world of bullfighting interestingly, is the "moment of truth". El momento de la verdad is the split second when the torero makes the kill, in so doing exposing his midfriff and genitals to possible contact with the bull's horns.
[Siesta by Freepik]
In American English "sonofabitch" is the loan translation of hijo de puta. British English is more explicit with a no-hold's-barred "f**king b**tard".
English has given many words and phrases "in exchange", eg futbol, gol, penalti, paella and guiski (whiskey).
GERMAN
English adopts words readily from German, eg angst, blitzkrieg, bunker, nazi and schadenfreude.
German also loans words to American English, eg bagel and Gesundheit! (when someone sneezes).
German takes on board many foreign words and phrases, perhaps the most bizarre being das Gentleman's-Agreement. There are also Radio, TV, DJ, Album, Rock and Roll and City Center from English/American and adieu, Coup d'etat, merci and Porte-Monnaie from French.
[CartoonStock]
FRENCH
Much to the chagrin (a loan word) of the Academie Francaise, the guardian of the French language, French has adopted words from all over, le weekend and set (tennis) being the most well-known.
The language of the Gauls has also donated countless words and phrases to other languages, including Appellation Controlee, beef, pork, coup d'etat, coup de grace, grand prix, guillotine, menu and parachute.
Last word
The best example of a language changing is the Latin spoken by the Roman Legionnaires who conquered France, Italy, Moldovia, Portugal, Romania and Spain.
Their original Latin developed into French, Italian, Moldovan, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish. These are known as the Romance languages.
© don Pablo
Pictures:
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