Lähtepoisid

Lähtepoisid is a term used in Estonian linguistics to refer to words that have been borrowed into the Estonian language and subsequently undergone a significant change in their meaning, often in a way that is not directly predictable from the original word's meaning in the source language. These loanwords, while maintaining their phonetic or morphological form, develop a new semantic scope or a completely different meaning within Estonian.

The process of semantic shift in lähtepoisid can occur for various reasons. Sometimes, it is due to a misunderstanding of the original word's context or a false association with existing Estonian words. In other cases, the word might have been borrowed in a specific, perhaps metaphorical, sense that was then interpreted more literally or differently by Estonian speakers. This can lead to a situation where the Estonian meaning of the word is quite distinct from its original meaning.

Examples of lähtepoisid can be found across different domains of the Estonian vocabulary. Identifying and analyzing these words is important for understanding the history of language contact and the dynamic nature of word meanings. Linguists study lähtepoisid to trace the influence of other languages on Estonian and to observe how semantic evolution takes place within a language. The term itself, "lähtepoisid," literally translates to "departure boys" or "boys who have departed," which can be seen as a metaphorical description of words that have left their original meaning behind to embark on a new semantic journey in Estonian.