calque formation
- noun
- /ˈkæl.k ˌfɔːrˈmeɪ.ʃən/
- Specialized
:
formación de calcos
- The word 'skyscraper' is a classic example of calque formation from the French 'gratte-ciel'.
Examples
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Many English expressions originate through calque formation from other languages, such as 'flea market' from 'marché aux puces'.
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Many English expressions originate by calque formation from other languages, notably from Latin and French.
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Translation students often study calque formation to understand how idioms can be adapted across languages.
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The term calque formation is essential in linguistics.
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Many languages use calque formations to enrich their vocabulary.
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The phrase 'call of nature' is an example of calque formation that captures the essence of needing to use the restroom.
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Linguists study calque formation to explore how translations can create new phrases in a language.
Synonyms
A word or phrase made by changing each part of a foreign phrase to keep its meaning
How Literal
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents are semantically compositional: 'calque' means a literal translation from another language and 'formation' means the process of creating. Combined, 'calque formation' transparently denotes the process of creating or introducing calques (i.e., introducing expressions by direct translation), a standard noun+noun composition that a learner who knows both words can derive.
Etymology
Calque formation describes making a new phrase by copying an expression word for word from another language. Think of skyscraper — English copied the French 'gratte-ciel' and kept the picture of scrape and sky, so calque formation means creating a direct translation that keeps the original image.