What does the term 'borrowing' refer to in linguistics?

In linguistics, the term 'borrowing' specifically refers to the incorporation of words from one language into another. This process occurs when one language adopts and integrates a word or a phrase from another language, often because of cultural exchange, trade, technological advancement, or social interaction. This linguistic phenomenon enriches the borrowing language by expanding its vocabulary and can include loanwords, which are words taken directly from another language, as well as loan translations.

For instance, English has borrowed numerous words from languages such as French (e.g., 'ballet'), Spanish (e.g., 'taco'), and Italian (e.g., 'pasta'), reflecting historical interactions and influences between speakers of those languages. The concept of borrowing emphasizes not just the acceptance of the new terms but also their phonological, morphological, or syntactic integration into the host language's system.

Other options involve different linguistic processes. The adoption of new grammatical structures refers to changes in syntax and grammar rather than vocabulary. Sound alteration pertains to phonetic changes within a language rather than borrowing from another. Lastly, the creation of new words can relate to processes like compounding or derivation, which do not involve the incorporation of existing words from other languages.