SEMANTIC SHIFTS OF INDIAN LOANWORDS IN RUSSIAN: THE CORPUS AND ASSOCIATIVE ANALYSIS

Olga V. Glukhova; Zaineta R. Khachmafova

doi:10.29121/shodhgyan.v4.i1.2026.91

Authors

Olga V. Glukhova PhD in Philology, Associate Professor, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Linguistics and Journalism, Department of Linguistics and intercultural communication, Rostov State University of Economics, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Zaineta R. Khachmafova Doctor of Philology (Dr. Habil.), Professor, Head of the Department of French and German Philology, Adygea State University, Maykop, Russia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhgyan.v4.i1.2026.91

Keywords:

Loanwords, Russian, Indian, Semantic Change, Free Associative Experiment, Corpus Analysis

Abstract [English]

The study presents a comprehensive analysis of semantic changes in Indian loanwords within the Russian language, employing a mixed-methods approach combining corpus linguistics and psycholinguistic experimentation. The research analyzes a systematically compiled dataset of 83 lexemes, examining their frequency, collocational behavior. To outline the cognitive representation in Russian consciousness 6 most frequent loanwords were subjected to a free-association experiment with 135 native speakers. Grounded in theoretical frameworks linking semantic change to cognitive factors, the study specifically investigates the roles of word frequency and concreteness.
The principal findings reveal a clear dichotomy in assimilation patterns. High-frequency, concrete loanwords demonstrate remarkable semantic stability, largely retaining their original meanings and showing predictable collocational patterns. In contrast, abstract and low-frequency terms, particularly from religious and philosophical domains, undergo profound semantic reconceptualization. The key transformations identified include: secularization of sacred concepts, metaphorical extension and semantic widening, development of pejorative connotations, and cultural re-attribution where modern Western cultural references displace original Indian cultural contexts.
The research confirms that loanwords follow the same cognitive principles of semantic change as native vocabulary, with frequency and concreteness being primary determining factors. Methodologically, the triangulation of corpus data with associative experiment results proved particularly valuable, capturing emerging semantic shifts not yet fully conventionalized in written texts. The study concludes that lexical borrowing represents an active process of cognitive and cultural adaptation rather than passive assimilation, fundamentally reshaping conceptual structures through interaction with the recipient language's cognitive and cultural environment. This research contributes to contact linguistics by providing an integrated framework for analyzing loanword assimilation across linguistic and cognitive dimensions.

References

Akulenko, E. A., and Leontieva, V. N. (2021). Lexemes of Indian-American Origin in the Word-Base System of the Modern Russian Language. In The Life of Language in Culture and Society: Collection of Scientific Articles (105–111). Minsk State Linguistic University.

Barashenkov, V. (2003). Veren Li Zakon Nyurona? [Is Newton’s Law Correct?]. Znanie—Sila (Knowledge Is Power), (1), 85–91.

Barsalou, L. W. (2003). Situated Simulation in the Human Conceptual System. Language and Cognitive Processes, 18(5–6), 513–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/01690960344000026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01690960344000026

Bußmann, H., Kazzazi, K., and Trauth, G. (2006). Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics (Taylor and Francis e-Library ed.). Routledge.

Goncharov, I. A. (1859). Letters.

Gurova, T., and Lukashov, I. (2014). Regulyarnyy Fitnes [Regular Fitness]. Ekspert.

Institute of Linguistic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences. (2025). Dictionary of Foreign Words.

Julul, A. A., Rahmawati, N. M., Kwary, D. A., and Sartini, N. W. (2020). Semantic Adaptations of the Arabic Loanwords in the Indonesian Language. Mozaik Humaniora, 19(2), 135–147. https://doi.org/10.20473/mozaik.v19i2.14584 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20473/mozaik.v19i2.14584

Karabash, A. (2002, February 4). Three Days in Monaco. Domovoy.

Kuznetsov, S. A. (2000). Bolshoy Tolkovyy Slovar Russkogo Yazyka [Large Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language]. Gramota.ru.

Latkin, A. (2003, January 22). Demonstrator Sovesti. Znamenitomu Khakeru Razreshili Vykhodit’ V Internet [A Demonstrator of Conscience. The Famous Hacker Was Allowed to Access the Internet]. Izvestia.

Li, Y., Breithaupt, F., Hills, T., Lin, Z., Chen, Y., Siew, C. S. Q., and Hertwig, R. (2024). How Cognitive Selection Affects Language Change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(1), Article e2220898120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2220898120 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2220898120

Mauri, M., Elli, T., Caviglia, G., Uboldi, G., and Azzi, M. (2017). RAWGraphs: A Visualisation Platform to Create Open Outputs. In Proceedings of the 12th Biannual Conference on the Italian SIGCHI Chapter (Article 28). ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/3125571.3125585 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3125571.3125585

Miller, R. (2015). Trask’s Historical Linguistics (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315728056 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315728056

Moffat, M., Siakaluk, P. D., Sidhu, D. M., and Pexman, P. M. (2015). Situated Conceptualization and Semantic Processing: Effects of Emotional Experience and Context Availability in Semantic Categorization and Naming Tasks. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 22(2), 408–419. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-014-0696-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-014-0696-0

Nashi Deti: Podrostki [Our Children: Teenagers]. (2004).

National Corpus of Russian Language. (n.d.). National Corpus of the Russian Language.

Oreshnikov, A. V. (1925). Dnevnik [The Diary].

Permyakov, A. (2016). Petushki—Moskva. Poyekhal [Petushki—Moscow. Gone]. Volga.

Pomerants, G. (1980). Son O Spravedlivom Vozmezdie (Moy Zatyanuvshiysya Spor) [A Dream of Fair Retribution (My Protracted Dispute)]. Sintaksis, 8, 122–147.

Rogov, O. G. (2012). Kino, Kotoroye Mozhet Izmenit’ Zhizn’. Vashu? [A Movie That Can Change Your Life. Yours?]. Volga.

Rostovsky, A. (2000). According to the Laws of the Wolf Pack. Vagrius.

Sharma, R. (1994). Indian Exotic Vocabulary in Russian [Abstract of the Dissertation of the Candidate of Philological Sciences, Minsk State University].

Shchapova, G. (2020). Mir, Ne Trognutyy Tsivilizatsiey [A World Untouched by Civilization]. Znanie—Sila, 6, 45–51.

Shigapov, A. S. (2013). Bangkok I Pattaya. Putevoditel [Bangkok and Pattaya: Travel Guide]. AST.

Tolstoy, L. N. (1878). Anna Karenina.

Vzglyad Vladimira Bukovskogo [Vladimir Bukovsky’s View]. (1997). Znanie—Sila.

Yuniarto, H., and Marsono, S. U. (2016). Semantic Change Type in Old Javanese Word and Sanskrit Loan Word to Modern Javanese. LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching, 19(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v16i1.262 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v16i1.262