Няколко случая на хетеросемия в балканските езици

The semantic evolution of words is an indispensable part of their historical development. It is determined both by intralinguistic and extralinguistic factors. In the course of migration, a borrowing can be incorporated within the language of adjacent or remote language communities taking on a modified meaning within the same semantic field. This very divergence in meaning, or heterosemy, across language systems is a constant source of misunderstanding. The article examines the semantic deviation of a number of words common to the Balkan languages.The need to explicitly point out cases of partial or complete heterosemy when learning a foreign language, as a means to avoid interference-induced errors in translation and communication is stressed upon. In addition, the article takes the view that when providing the etymology of borrowings it is appropriate to specify the lexical prototype in the source or intermediary language and to trace the semasiological changes undergone.