Internationalismen aus linguistischer und didaktischer Perspektive ; Internationalisms from the Linguistic and Didactic Perspectives

Abstract

Linguistics and didactics are increasingly focused on international lexis. The phenomenon of international words not only facilitates the coexistence of different cultures but also effectively helps acquiring foreign languages. The object of the work is related to general borrowings of languages, i.e. lexical internationalisms. In linguistics, the term internationalism is frequently identified with such terms as loanword and borrowing. The first part of the article examines the definitions of internationalism presented in various dictionaries and linguistic works as well as gives an overview of the main works in the field of borrowings in the German and Lithuanian linguistics. One of the most important aspects of the work is to discuss the typology of international words as well as to show the types of their integration, which can be used in the process of learning foreign languages. Internationalisms as political, historical, economic and religious aspects of development are essential elements of lexis of different languages, word formation and usage. They become quickly integrated in languages and enrich them. This common language potential is important in foreign language teaching, whereas all language similarities that help learners to acquire another foreign language (both Indo-European and non-Indo-European) are incentive learning measures. The second part of the article focuses on didactic issues. The lexemes recognized at the initial stage reduce the feeling of difficulty in the process of learning and stimulate motivation. Particular spelling and morphological subtleties can be explained and the differences of new language semantics can be presented and elucidated by providing students with the examples of international words during the classes of foreign languages. International vocabulary helps beginners to read simple, authentic or synthetic texts, and enables advanced learners to understand literary or specialist texts. Working with international words in texts and systematically comparing them with a mother tongue or another foreign language encourages the development of rules of the new language that is effective for language learners.