Calque

Quick Answer

A calque is a word or phrase created by literally translating the components of a term from another language into native words.

TL;DR

• Calques translate concepts word-for-word.
• They use existing vocabulary, unlike loanwords.
• Many common phrases are hidden calques.
• They expand a language's vocabulary for new ideas.
• The word "calque" means "a tracing" in French.

Why It Matters

Calques reveal how languages expand their vocabulary by subtly borrowing ideas while keeping their own linguistic structure.

What is a Calque?

A calque is a specific type of linguistic borrowing. Instead of adopting a foreign word directly, a language translates each of its individual parts. This process creates a new term using words already present in the recipient language.

For example, the English word "supermarket" is not a calque. However, the German term Übermensch, meaning "superman," is often calqued into English as phrases like "overman."

Calques and Loanwords Compared

It is important to understand the difference between calques and loanwords.

• Loanwords retain the original sound and often the spelling of the foreign word. For instance, "ballet" is a French loanword in English.
• Calques, by contrast, replace every part of the foreign phrase with a direct translation. They use words native to the borrowing language.

Consider "beer garden." This English phrase is a calque of the German word Biergarten. The concept is borrowed, but the actual words used are English.

How Vocabulary Expands

Calques are an effective way for languages to grow their vocabulary. They allow new concepts, technologies, or abstract ideas to enter a language seamlessly. This happens without disrupting its existing phonetic or grammatical patterns.

According to researchers at the University of Cambridge, calques help maintain a language's distinct character. They offer a "native-sounding" solution for foreign ideas, unlike loanwords which can feel overtly foreign.

Etymology of "Calque"

The word "calque" itself has an interesting history.

• It arrived in English around the 1930s.
• Its root is the French word calque. This means "a copy" or "a tracing" (as described by the Oxford English Dictionary).
• The French term comes from calquer, meaning "to trace."
• Further back, its origins lie in the Italian calcare, which means "to tread" or "to stamp."
• Ultimately, it traces to the Latin calcare.

This linguistic journey reflects the essence of a calque: it is a linguistic "tracing" of meaning.

Common English Calques

Many phrases commonly used in English are, in fact, calques from other languages. These examples highlight the widespread nature of this phenomenon:

• "Flea market": This is a direct calque of the French marché aux puces.
• "Skyscraper": Often considered a calque of the Dutch wolkenkrabber or German Wolkenkratzer. Both mean "cloud scraper."
• "Masterpiece": This phrase comes from the Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück.
• "Honeymoon": A calque of the Dutch Honingmaand or older German Honigmond.
• "Gospel": From Old English gōd spell, a calque of the Latin bona annuntiatio, meaning "good news."

Linguistic Significance

Calques play a vital role in how languages evolve. They allow languages to integrate new concepts efficiently. This is especially true for languages that prefer to use their own existing words.

For instance, some languages, like Icelandic, are known for their preference for calquing. They create new terms from native roots rather than borrowing foreign words directly. This approach helps preserve the language's unique character.

Calques are a powerful and subtle way that languages influence one another, creating diverse and rich vocabularies without always sounding 'foreign'. Understanding them reveals a deeper layer of linguistic interconnectedness.

Further Reading

For more on linguistic borrowing, consider exploring articles on Wikipedia about loanwords and direct borrowing. You might also find information on the BBC's languages section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "moment of truth" a calque?

Yes, "moment of truth" is often cited as a calque from the Spanish momento de la verdad, particularly in bullfighting contexts.

How do calques differ from semantic loans?

Semantic loans involve extending an existing word's meaning based on a foreign word. Calques create entirely new compound words or phrases.

Can a calque become completely naturalised?

Many calques become so integrated into a language that their foreign origin is no longer recognised. For example, "skyscraper" is rarely thought of as a translation.

Key Takeaways

• Calques facilitate the borrowing of concepts between languages.
• They use native words to express foreign ideas.
• They are distinct from loanwords, which retain foreign forms.
• Many common phrases in English are actually calques.
• Calques contribute significantly to a language's vocabulary growth.