Hibrīdsalikteņi un daļējie kalki
Hybrid compound words and loanblends

Summary/Abstract: When analysing hybrid words and loanblends (semi-calques), we must talk about native and foreign elements, i.e., the combination of elements from different languages, foreign word formation models and the possibility that „native” and “foreign” are not always clearly distinguishable. The analysis of specific hybrid compound words can include the examination of both the origin of the elements and the origin of the hybrid compound itself (for example, Latvian ludotēka ‘play library, toy library’ < Latin lūdus ‘game’ + Greek thēkē ‘repository’; Latvian luksofors ‘traffic light’ < Latin lux ‘light’ + Greek phoros ‘carrying, carrier’). Of particular interest, of course, are hybrid words in which elements of foreign origin, including neoclassical ones, are combined with elements of native origin. For example, those are hybrid compounds with avio- in the first part and a word of Latvian origin in the second part of a compound (Latvian aviosabiedrība ‘airline’ < avio- from Latin avis ‘bird’ + Latvian sabiedrība ‘company’). Also, those are hybrid compounds with the first component of Latvian origin vied- ‘smart’ which has recently become particularly popular both in terminology and general language (for example, Latvian viedfails ‘smart file’ < Latvian vieds ‘smart’ + English file). It is worth considering the relationship between hybrid compounds and semi-calques. Semicalques also have elements from different languages – some of the foreign elements are borrowed (imported), some are replaced (substituted) with a native equivalent. The essential factor distinguishing them from other hybrid compounds is that we are talking about borrowing and using a foreign word formation model instead of forming words independently.

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