What are Loanwords?

Have you ever wondered what loanwords are? Loanwords are words that have come from one language and are used in another. We use loanwords frequently, sometimes without even realizing it. Some are more obvious, such as ‘schadenfreude,’ whilst others such as ‘loot’ or ‘ballet’ are more discreet. Loanwords help us in our day to day lives as we try to find words that will help us communicate precisely what we need. Without them, the English language would be far different from what it is today.

 

Sumerian is the oldest language in the world, though it has died out. William Shakespeare is said to have created 1,700 words that are still used in English today. With this, we can only wonder how the languages of the world will continue to develop as time passes.

 

Romance languages are said to have many similarities with each other. They also all share a common ancestor in Latin, which was the language of the Roman empire. One of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn is Mandarin, which also has the most native speakers. If you are fluent in more than 5 languages, you would be considered a polyglot. If you can speak 3, then you are somebody who is trilingual. Learning languages has several benefits, such as being able to communicate with more people from around the world. It can also help you if you decide to go on a vacation.

 

Communicating with people from different parts of the world can allow you to gain a new perspective on things. You can also get to learn new things from different cultures. And when you start to develop these new attributes, it can help change and form your personality and interests.

 

Overall, the benefits of learning a new language can not be understated. But the question of what language to learn may be the next question in somebodies mind. There are over 7,000 languages to choose from, so making a choice would be difficult. But no matter what language you choose, you would still be able to communicate with various people across the globe.

Posh Bhat

Posh is a Junior Student and loves to paint, photography, read and write

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