The problem of transformation of the Polish lexicon under the influence of borrowings from English

Abstract

The proposed study argues that due to its status as a global language in the world, English can transform the lexicon of any language, including Polish. The purpose of the article is to highlight the problem of borrowing Anglicisms into the Polish language and its transformation under their influence, as well as to draw attention to the change in the functional-stylistic status of borrowed units and the socio-cultural dimension of the problem. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive analysis of the process of adaptation of Anglicisms in contemporary Polish, considering not only linguistic but also sociocultural factors, as well as in identifying the dynamics of changes in their functional and stylistic status. The following research methods were used in the work: descriptive (characterized linguistic phenomena), comparative (to compare Anglicisms with Polish counterparts), lexical-semantic analysis (determined the change in the meanings of borrowed units) and elements of contextual (when the functional features of the use of borrowings were considered. The results of the study demonstrate that Anglicisms allow the Polish language to develop and adapt to a world in which information is constantly updated. Changes in the Polish language tradition occur through the literal transfer of foreign vocabulary into its composition. But more often, for a particular Anglicism to fully function in the environment of a new language, it must undergo transformation to correspond to the phonetic, morphological and semantic system of the recipient language. The semantic adaptation of Anglicisms determines the change in their meaning, which can narrow or expand within the language. There are also cases when borrowed words change their stylistic coloring, passing into the category of colloquial, slang or professional vocabulary.

It is stated that ordinary citizens and leading Polish linguists have mixed feelings about the introduction of Anglicisms into their language. The conclusions state that Anglicisms enter the Polish language purposefully, not as a fashionable trend, but as a real communicative need, which, unfortunately, threatens the preservation of linguistic identity if the balance between openness and protection of the national language is not maintained.