Trigger word
The term trigger words (Engl. Trigger words ) comes from the language contact research of linguistics .
In a multilingual communication situation, there is often an intentional or unintentional change from one language to the other. The unintended change from one language to another can be caused by certain trigger words .
Trigger words make the transition from one language to the other easier because they are present in both language systems. Because wherever the systems overlap and the elements form an interface, the transition ( transversion ) from one language to another is made easier. The trigger words can, but do not have to, trigger code switching . They just make the transition from one language to another easier.
There are different types of trigger words:
- Proper names: In connection with proper names it often happens that a transition takes place in the other language or that when several proper names are listed, the translation equivalent of the conjunctions “and” or “or” is realized in the other language.
- Lexical acquisitions: Lexical units that either already represent lexicalized borrowings or can also be individual borrowings or ad hoc acquisitions can act as trigger words. E.g .: second-hand.
- Bilingual homophones : These are identical words in both languages. These forms are more common in genetically closely related languages. Example: engl. man / dt. man
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c Claudia Maria Riehl: Language contact research: An introduction . 2nd revised edition. Gunter Narr Verlag, Tübingen 2009, ISBN 978-3-8233-6469-6 , p. 27-29 .