Anglicisms in Electrical Engineering Terminology A new word is like a fresh seed sown on the ground of the discussion. (Ludwig Wittgenstein) Preliminary Communication Yvonne Liermann - Zeljak J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Kneza Trpimira 2b, Osijek, Croatia
[email protected] Abstract – This paper addresses the problem of increasing penetration of Anglicisms in electrical engineering terminology, with particular emphasis on computer terminology. This widespread phenomenon is part of a larger language process influenced by globalization, in which the boundaries between languages have become less rigid. Furthermore, the problem of their integration into the Croatian language system is analyzed. Examples excerpted from Croatian popular magazines and scientific journals in the field of power engineering and computer science are analyzed in accordance with the work of Rudolf Filipović. Consequently, the analysis is carried out on the level of orthography, phonology, morphology, and semantics, but also on the level of word formation. In the end, standardization issues of Anglicisms are tackled. Keywords – adaptation, Anglicisms, electrical engineering terminology 1. INTRODUCTION [2]. According to some research, Anglicisms1 account for more than 40 % of all loanwords in most European Borrowing is part of a linguistic phenomenon called languages which calls for meticulous attention and neology. According to [1], every natural language is analysis [2]. susceptible to the process of neologism creation, either by producing them out of their own resources, or by 2. COMPUTER-RELATED ANGLICISMS IN importing them from other linguistic systems. The ne- CROATIAN AND OTHER EUROPEAN ology process is conditioned by man’s social evolution, LANGUAGES i.e. that which is brought about by new inventions, phenomena, products, etc., which entails the inevi- Science and technology have been undergoing rapid table appearance of new words.