Phonetic adaptation of Russian borrowings in Kaitag

the article analyzes the phonetic adaptation of Russian borrowings in the Kaitag language. The Russian-Kaitag language contacts that began in the 17th century led to the formation of a significant stratum of Russianisms that underwent systemic adaptation in accordance with the phonetic features of the host language. A study of 248 lexical units revealed 16 types of phonetic changes. They are determined by the peculiarities of the sound system, the rules of sound combination, and the prosodic characteristics of the Kaitag language. The analysis revealed the systemic nature of the processes of adaptation to the phonotactic limitations of the receiving language. The study of the mechanisms of phonetic adaptation of borrowings is of considerable interest for contact linguistics. This kind of analysis makes it possible to identify universal patterns of adaptation of foreign language material to the sound system of the receiving language. The key adaptation tools are: simplification of consonant clusters through epenthesis, loss of consonants and metathesis; qualitative changes in vowels; replacement of missing phonemes; gemination of consonants. The results contribute to the typology of language contacts in the Caucasus and will find application in lexicographic practice and language planning.

phonetic adaptation, the Kaitag language, Russian borrowings, sound correspondences, phonosystem, language contacts, the Darginian languages, the East Caucasian (Nakh-Dagestan) languages, epenthesis, elision, gemination, phonotactics, typology of borrowings