Oriental Influence on Romanian Vocabulary between Past and Present

Abstract

Some Oriental elements with old or obsolete meanings are reviving in the current language as a result of extra-linguistic factors, social factors that remind us not only of the words, but also specific Oriental attitudes, behaviors dressed in modern clothes. Our interest was aroused by words such as beizadea, bairam, manea, paranghelie persisting in our vocabulary, though neologisms ofEnglish origin as party, hit and cocktail are very frequent. We believe that the speaker is keen on these Oriental elements not only for reasons of style, but also from a special openness that Romanian language has for such lexical borrowings, indicating in the same time a vibration of spirit and thinking in certain patterns without affecting the profound essence. The hospitality of the Romanian language enhances its stylistic resources and the ability to create images, being also a mirror of various major linguistic influences.

Keywords

• Oriental influence
• Romanian vocabulary dynamics
• cultural pattern
• social behavior