THE FUNCTIONS OF ENGLISH LOANWORDS IN THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE

Abstract

The article examines the functional component of the borrowing process, which has been of interest to linguists such as V. O. Ruban, P. D’Achille, P. Vettorel, G. Rogato, and others. These functions meet the needs of speakers who, in specific communication situations, face the challenge of selecting appropriate means of expression to convey a message. These needs can theoretically be correlated with the reasons for borrowing, which can be linguistic or extra-linguistic. Borrowings for non-linguistic reasons always carry a certain pragmatic load, which can be quite difficult for an outside observer to determine without delving into the inner world of the participants in communication. A paradigm of the main motivating factors for borrowing can be identified, however. These factors are fashion, prestige, expression, mystery and the stylistic colouring of English-language vocabulary. These are determined by the dominant position of Anglo-Saxon culture in the world. The article identifies eight main functions of Anglicisms: nominative, differential, integrative, euphemistic, expressive, manipulative, linguistic economy and orientation towards linguistic fashion. The nominative function is the main function of borrowing, and it is determined by the need to name new objects or phenomena. The differential function is a mechanism for lexical enrichment of the language through the differentiation of meanings of synonymous pairs formed when foreign words are adopted into the recipient language. The function of saving linguistic resources (compression) is achieved by replacing a synonymous expanded expression in Italian with a single borrowed word. The integrative function is primarily performed by Anglicisms-internationalisms, which simplify interethnic communication in many areas of human activity. The tendency to follow linguistic trends is most evident in the media sphere, where the use of Anglicisms is a common practice to elevate the perceived status of the speaker or the subject being discussed. The euphemistic function of borrowings comes into play when it is necessary to conceal the true meaning of a statement to avoid misunderstandings. The manipulative function is based on the addressee’s incomplete understanding of the borrowings, which allows the addresser to persuade them to make the desired decision.