Cross-Linguistic Influences: Unassimilated Italian Loanwords in Turkish

This study explores the linguistic and cultural dynamics of unassimilated Italian loanwords in Turkish, focusing on borrowings that have retained distinct phonetic and morphological characteristics. Tracing its roots to historical commercial and diplomatic exchanges between the Ottoman Empire and Italian city-states such as Venice and Genoa, the research examines the integration of more than 600 Italian words into the Turkish lexicon.

Through a detailed linguistic analysis, the study uncovers the intricate adaptation processes these loanwords undergo to fit Turkish phonological structures. These modifications include consonant substitution, vowel epenthesis, and syllabic restructuring, reflecting the interplay between the phonotactic constraints of Italian and Turkish.

By highlighting the complexities of lexical integration, this research offers valuable insights into language evolution, cultural linguistics, and the mechanisms through which languages absorb, modify, and preserve foreign linguistic elements.