As a general rule loanwords are not used in the target language in the
same way as in the source language, but instead, are adapted to its system. The
nature of this adaptation can vary from one language to another and from one
period of time to another. In this study we propose to demonstrate the dynamic
character of the use of loanwords, taking the example of turkisms in Bulgarian.
We raise several questions in order to refine the comprehension of the
phenomenon of borrowing. Do loanwords have a stable place in the target
language ? What are the linguistic factors that promote or discourage their
integration ? Are there historical contexts in which their use is prohibited or
advocated ? Do they have different connotations compared to the native words
and if so, then for what reasons ? We first make a few remarks on the
development of the linguistic transformations that determine the acceptance of
the turkisms in the system of the Bulgarian language. Then we look at the
various functions of these loanwords in order to describe the changes of usage
that has occurred. On these two points we conduct our analysis on a diachronic
axis of the overall development of the Bulgarian language.
