French translation of calque is 
calque

Meaning of "calque" in English

In English, "calque" refers to a linguistic expression or a phrase borrowed from another language by literal, word-for-word, or root-for-root translation. For instance, the English phrase "skyscraper" can be analyzed as a calque of the French "gratte-ciel." Calques are a common phenomenon in linguistics as languages often adopt expressions from other languages and integrate them into their own lexicon. This process enriches the language but also presents challenges as subtle differences in meaning can occur when expressions are translated literally.

Meaning of "calque" in French

In French, "calque" also refers to a linguistic borrowing technique where a word or phrase is translated literally from another language into French. This process allows the expression to be integrated into French while keeping its original meaning. Calques play an important role in language evolution and adaptation, providing a way for languages to grow by incorporating elements from other cultures. Examples include “gratte-ciel” from “skyscraper.” Calques are distinguished from loanwords, which adopt both form and meaning from the source language, whereas calques translate the meaning into native terms.

Pronunciation of "calque" in English

Phonetic Transcription: [kælk]

Pronunciation Variations: In English, "calque" is pronounced similarly in different regions, with variations mainly dependent on accent. It tends to sound like "kalk" with a hard "k" at both the beginning and end, commonly used in academic and linguistic contexts.

Pronunciation of "calque" in French

Phonetic Transcription: [kalk]

Pronunciation Variations: In French, "calque" is pronounced with a soft "l" and a distinct "k" sound. Regional variations are minimal, but the Parisian accent might have a slightly more nasal quality.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

1. The translation used a calque instead of a more natural equivalent. (La traduction utilisait un calque au lieu d'un équivalent plus naturel.)
2. English often includes calques from French due to historical influence. (L'anglais inclut souvent des calques du français en raison de l'influence historique.)
3. They adopted a calque from the German expression completely. (Ils ont totalement adopté un calque de l'expression allemande.)
4. Some idioms are best understood as calques rather than literal translations. (Certains idiomes sont mieux compris comme des calques plutôt que des traductions littérales.)
5. The calque led to confusion in the translated text. (Le calque a conduit à une confusion dans le texte traduit.)
6. Linguists debate the utility of calques versus loanwords. (Les linguistes débattent de l'utilité des calques par rapport aux mots empruntés.)
7. The term "worldview" is a calque of the German "Weltanschauung." (Le terme "vision du monde" est un calque de l'allemand "Weltanschauung.")
8. She explained that a calque differs from a simple loanword. (Elle expliquait qu'un calque diffère d'un simple mot emprunté.)
9. Calques are part of how languages influence each other. (Les calques font partie de la façon dont les langues s'influencent mutuellement.)
10. Translators sometimes use calques for stylistic reasons. (Les traducteurs utilisent parfois des calques pour des raisons stylistiques.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "calque" in English

Synonyms: loan translation, literal translation, copy, imitation, direct translation.

Antonyms: original phrase, unique expression, native expression.

Similar Words: borrowing, influence, adaptation, linguistic blend.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "calque" in French

Synonyms: traduction littérale, emprunt sémantique, imitation.

Antonyms: expression originale, phrase unique.

Similar Words: emprunt, influence, adaptation linguistique.

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