2.8. Borrowings from Italian

Economic and political ties between England and Italy began to develop intensively from the XIV century. The English economy was linked to Italian manufacture, which could not exist without English wool. Preparations for the Hundred Years' War were carried out by Edward III with the money of Florentine bankers. These economic and political ties are reflected in the vocabulary of the English language, which, starting from the 14th century, borrows Italian words related to trade, manufacture and military affairs.

However, the Italian language had its strongest influence during the Renaissance. We know the significance that the literature and art of the Renaissance had for the whole of European culture. England also experienced this influence. Acquaintance with the Italian literature of this period, travels to Italy, the study of its painting, sculpture and architecture, interest in Italian music, in the country itself, all this was reflected in a number of borrowings from the Italian language.

It should be noted that, due to the wide spread of Italian borrowings in European languages, some Italian words were borrowed into English not directly, but through other languages. For example, barouche (Italian word baroccio - baroque); cohl-rabi (it. cavoli rape - kohlrabi) are borrowed from German. Most Italian words before the 16th century were borrowed through French, and only from the 16th century did borrowings appear directly from Italian.

The earliest (XIV-XV centuries) borrowings relate to trade and military affairs. So the words were borrowed from the field of trade and finance: ducat, million, lombard. From the field of military affairs and navigation: alarm (alarm), brigand (bandit), bark (barque).

In the 16th century, economic ties with Italy caused new borrowings: carat (carat), traffic (traffic), porcelain (porcelain), contraband (smuggling), bankrupt (bankrupt), soldo (soldo), battalion, squadron, citadel, pistol.

However, the largest number of words borrowed from the Italian language is associated with the field of art (literature, painting, music, architecture). For example: sonnet, stanza, motto, model, miniature, madonna, fresco.

Other borrowings from this period: bandit, biretta, mustachio, lottery, bravo, duel, cavalcade, escort, artichoke, gondola.

In the 17th century, the number of borrowings related to public life, trade, as well as art and music, increases, for example: manifesto, intrigue, bulletin, risk, umbrella, balcony, corridor, pedal, solo, opera, vivace, piano, largo, allegro, grotto, volcano, cascade.

In the 18th century, the continuing fascination with Italian musical culture caused a new influx of musical terms from the Italian language of this period, such words as soprano, falsetto, viola, cantata, mandolin, trombone, trio, fantasia, aria, tempo, obligate, crescendo, andante appeared.

Words were borrowed from the field of other types of art: picturesque, costume, terracotta, dilettante.

In the 19th century, some words are borrowed that reflect the political struggle in Italy. For example, carbonary, cammorra. The group of borrowings related to science is increasing, however, the largest number of borrowings, as in the previous two centuries, came from the field of music and art. Examples include the following words: sonatina, cavatina, legato, prima donna, diva, fiasco, studio, replica.

From the borrowings of the beginning of the 20th century, one can note: autostrada, duce and fascist.

The last word is associated with the Latin word fasces - the name of the emblem of the executive power in Ancient Rome (a bunch of birch twigs with an ax stuck in the middle).

It should be noted that in English, as in a number of other European languages, some Italian phraseological combinations are used, for example, sotto voce (in a whisper, in an undertone), traditori and others.

2.9. Spanish loanwords

Like borrowings from Italian, Spanish borrowings began to appear in English from the 16th century. Historical events that caused an influx of borrowings are associated with the Great geographical discoveries of the late 15th - early 16th centuries. The development of trade that followed the discovery of America (1492) and the opening of the sea route to India (1498), the colonization of South and North America by the Spaniards and, later, the cooperation of England with Spain led to the borrowing of a number of Spanish words, as well as words from languages ​​of the people who were colonized.

The earliest borrowings associated with Spanish entered the English vocabulary as early as the 19th century through the French language. Some of them are words of Arabic origin, reflecting trade relations with the East and the influence of Eastern culture, for example, cotton, zenith. In the 15th century, several more such borrowings were made: lemon, tare (tare) - directly from Spanish.

In the 16th century, close economic and political ties between Spain and England, on the one hand, and Spain and France, on the other, contributed to the penetration of a number of Spanish words into English, both directly from Spanish and through French.

In the first half of the 16th century, thanks to dynastic ties between England and Spain, there were many Spaniards in England, from whom the British learned a number of words related to Spanish customs and trade. The military conflict between the two countries at the end of the 16th century also left its traces in the English vocabulary.

From the Spanish borrowings of this period, the following words can be cited as examples: infanta, don, hidalgo, renegade, bravado, armada, comrade, mulatto, mosquito.

Of the most famous words borrowed in the 17th century, we cite the following: cargo, guitar, castanet, toreador, matador, duenna, dona, embargo, parade, escapade.

Among the borrowings made in the 18th century, one can note the names of Spanish dances, games and foods, items of clothing, socio-political terms. For example, quadrille, bolero, picador, marinade, caramel, flotilla, cigar.

Most borrowings from Spanish in the 19th century came from the Americas. Some of these borrowings through American literature entered the vocabulary of the English language. Of these borrowings, we can mention: querilla (root of Germanic origin: werra-war), cigarette, lasso, mustang.

As can be seen from the above examples, most loanwords from Spanish retain their appearance and are usually used in English for stylistic purposes, most often to give "local color" to the story. Of the Spanish words that have firmly entered the vocabulary of the English language and are no longer perceived as barbarisms, the following words can be distinguished: cotton, zenith, renegade, grenade, alligator, banana, cargo, guitar, guerilla, cigarette, cafeteria, tango, rumba.

Recent and widely used borrowings include dinero, macho, amigo, gringo, el nino(a) and others.

Under it are special classes: social role, position, etc., but it does not fit into our preliminary classification). Thus, classifying the new borrowed words of socio-political vocabulary in the language of the Russian media by areas of use, we see that, in addition to the words of the political discourse itself, which are subdivided in turn into subclasses (nomenclature names ...

It becomes more prestigious than Russian, the expression of its novelty is attractive, it can emphasize the high level of information content of the speaker. We have identified the main reasons for English-language borrowings in modern Russian: the emergence of new concepts and realities in the socio-political life of the country; the emergence of new words that previously existed in the life of society, but did not have ...

Economic and political ties between England and Italy began to develop intensively from the XIV century. The English economy was linked to Italian manufacture, which could not exist without English wool. Preparations for the Hundred Years' War were carried out by Edward III with the money of Florentine bankers. These economic and political ties are reflected in the vocabulary of the English language, which, starting from the 14th century, borrows Italian words related to trade, manufacture and military affairs.

However, the Italian language had its strongest influence during the Renaissance. We know the significance that the literature and art of the Renaissance had for the whole of European culture. England also experienced this influence. Acquaintance with the Italian literature of this period, travels to Italy, the study of its painting, sculpture and architecture, interest in Italian music, in the country itself, all this was reflected in a number of borrowings from the Italian language.

It should be noted that, due to the wide spread of Italian borrowings in European languages, some Italian words were borrowed into English not directly, but through other languages. For example, barouche (Italian word baroccio - baroque); cohl-rabi (it. cavoli rape -- kohlrabi) are borrowed from German. Most Italian words before the 16th century were borrowed through French, and only from the 16th century did borrowings appear directly from Italian.

The earliest (XIV-XV centuries) borrowings relate to trade and military affairs. So the words were borrowed from the field of trade and finance: ducat, million, lombard. From the field of military affairs and navigation: alarm (alarm), brigand (bandit), bark (barque).

In the 16th century, economic ties with Italy caused new borrowings: carat (carat), traffic (traffic), porcelain (porcelain), contraband (smuggling), bankrupt (bankrupt), soldo (soldo), battalion, squadron, citadel, pistol.

However, the largest number of words borrowed from the Italian language is associated with the field of art (literature, painting, music, architecture). For example: sonnet, stanza, motto, model, miniature, madonna, fresco.

Other borrowings from this period: bandit, biretta, mustachio, lottery, bravo, duel, cavalcade, escort, artichoke, gondola.

In the 17th century, the number of borrowings related to public life, trade, as well as art and music, increases, for example: manifesto, intrigue, bulletin, risk, umbrella, balcony, corridor, pedal, solo, opera, vivace, piano, largo, allegro, grotto, volcano, cascade.

In the 18th century, the continuing fascination with Italian musical culture caused a new influx of musical terms from the Italian language of this period, such words as soprano, falsetto, viola, cantata, mandolin, trombone, trio, fantasia, aria, tempo, obligate, crescendo, andante appeared.

Words were borrowed from the field of other types of art: picturesque, costume, terracotta, dilettante.

In the 19th century, some words are borrowed that reflect the political struggle in Italy. For example, carbonary, cammorra. The group of borrowings related to science is increasing, however, the largest number of borrowings, as in the previous two centuries, came from the field of music and art. Examples include the following words: sonatina, cavatina, legato, prima donna, diva, fiasco, studio, replica.

From the borrowings of the beginning of the 20th century, one can note: autostrada, duce and fascist.

The last word is associated with the Latin word fasces - the name of the emblem of the executive power in Ancient Rome (a bundle of birch twigs with an ax stuck in the middle).

It should be noted that in English, as in a number of other European languages, some Italian phraseological combinations are used, for example, sotto voce (in a whisper, in an undertone), traditori and others.

What is the etymology of Italian words? Today we will talk about the origin of Italian words that were borrowed into Russian. For the purity of the experiment, and also in order to understand whether this article will be useful to my readers, for several weeks I asked my numerous acquaintances the question of what this or that word familiar to us in Russian means. At the same time, I did not say that the words, the meaning of which I ask to explain to me, are related to such a concept as the etymology of Italian words. It was very interesting to watch the reaction of my acquaintances: they were all very surprised by my, as it seemed to them, stupid questions and could not understand why I was asking them. Of course, at first glance, they may seem elementary, because even a child knows the answer to them! But, as it turned out, not every adult knows the etymology (origin) of these words. Let's check ourselves. These questions related to the meaning of words in Russian, you can also ask your friends. I hope that this article, which tells what the etymology of Italian words is, will help you learn a lot of new and interesting things. So:

Bankrupt- a person who is unable to pay his debts.

The etymology of this word goes back to the Italian language and consists of two words: banca(bench) and rotta(broken) or banco(counter) and rotto(broken). That is, this word means "broken bench" or "broken counter." In the Middle Ages, various money changers, bankers and other persons associated with a relatively honest taking of money from the population gathered in special trading places (analogues of modern markets), and counters (benches) were installed in front of them, which were called mensaargentaria(silver plated table). On these "silver-plated tables" financiers, if they can be called that, kept the money necessary to complete certain financial transactions during the day. According to the law, it was necessary to have a certain amount, below which a person was deprived of the right to carry out financial transactions. Consequently, if a person did not have enough money on the table, according to the decision of the judge, his mensa argentaria was subject to immediate destruction (scrapping), and the person himself was deprived of the right to engage in any kind of financial transactions. Consequently, he became bankrupt. Now let's look at other examples that fall under the concept of etymology of Italian words.

Props- fake.

Consists of two Italian words: buttare(throw away) and fuori(to the street, out). Often in the windows of expensive shops there are dummies (props) of one or another item. It can be a sealed package of expensive perfumes, which actually does not contain perfume, a bottle of French "cognac" of the beginning of the last century, where, instead of cognac, cheap tea is poured, and even iron "jewelry" with polished glass instead of diamonds. These fake items are of no value. They are used for window dressing, and naive buyers think that they have real objects in front of them. In fact, these dummies are a direct road to the trash, but the store owners have a different point of view ...

Newspaper- a printed periodical published at least once a month.

Initially, the word "newspaper" was used to refer to a small Venetian coin in the 16th century, which got its name from the fact that it depicted a magpie bird, which in Italian sounds like gazza. Suffix - etta is a diminutive in Italian. In Russian, forty with such a diminutive suffix would sound like “forty”, “sorokovushka”, etc. It must be said that this coin in Venice could only buy a news bulletin, a prototype of a modern newspaper, just like 1 kopeck in the USSR could only buy a box of matches. Consequently, after some time, the word "newspaper" acquired a meaning that has survived to this day.

Carnival- masquerade ball.

carne(meat) and vale(goodbye). The fact is that in the old days, the carnival in Italy was preceded by a strict fast, during which a ban was imposed on the use of a number of products, including meat. Consequently, at carnivals it was possible not only to have fun from the heart, but also to eat your fill of meat, and then say goodbye to him. It should be noted that the Italian word vale has another meaning, namely “to be in authority”, “to have weight, value”. That is, according to another version of the expression carnevale means that only on this holiday meat has weight, authority, because after the carnival it will be declared a non grata product.

Carousel- a children's attraction with wooden seats in the form of horses for riding in a circle.

Consists of two Italian words - gara(competition) and sella(saddle). In the Middle Ages, jousting tournaments were common in Italy, in which participants often maimed and killed each other. Later, in the 17th century, these bloody tournaments were replaced by festive events in which riders on horseback took part. They no longer killed each other, as before, but gracefully moved in and out to the sounds of wind instruments, crossed and spread swords, and also formed various figures. They were accompanied by squires and other smartly dressed participants in the celebrations. Now you know where horses appeared on modern carousels.

Tuple- solemn passage, procession, departure.

This word is derived from the Italian word corteggiare which means "to care for". Indeed, the highest officials of the states, driving on the roads, accompanied by cars of law enforcement agencies, are “cared for” by these very structures ...

Passport- the main document proving the identity of a citizen.

It goes back to the Italian language and consists of two words: passare(pass) and porto(port), place of anchorage of ships. That is, initially the passport was a pass document for ships to ports in order to carry out loading and unloading operations, and only then acquired its modern meaning.

Soldier- a low-level soldier.

This word in its modern meaning came into Russian from the Italian language of the 11th century and is formed from the word soldo- the monetary unit of Italy at that time. A "soldier" was a hired military who received a salary for military service. By the way, the Italian word "soldo" and the Russian word "money" are peculiar relatives. After all, the word “money” was used to refer to a Russian coin with a denomination of half a kopeck during the time of Catherine I. Later, the word “ money", and in Italian -" soldi”, according to the rule of plural formation of nouns.

Here is such an entertaining etymology of Italian words ...