purismi

Purismi, or linguistic purism, is an ideology and set of practices that seek to preserve the perceived purity or autonomy of a language by limiting foreign influence, especially loanwords, calques, and non-native grammatical forms. Proponents argue that purism protects national identity, stabilizes the language, and improves cultural continuity, while critics contend that it can hinder communication, reinforce prescriptive norms, and resist useful innovation.

The concept appears in many language communities and has taken various forms. In French, purisme has historically promoted native coinages and discouraged English loans to maintain a distinctly Francophone vocabulary. Turkish language reform in the early 20th century aimed to replace many Arabic and Persian lexemes with Turkish-origin terms, illustrating state-led purist aims. Icelandic has a long-standing tradition of coining new terms from native roots to replace foreign borrowings, maintaining a strong purist impulse in vocabulary and neologism creation. In Finnish scholarship, purismi describes similar tendencies to favor native lexicon and standardized forms as part of language policy.

Purismi often intersects with broader language planning, national identity, and education. In practice, purist approaches may allow exceptions for technical or international terms when no satisfactory native equivalent exists, or when global communication requires intercultural exchange. Contemporary discussions tend to balance purist ideals with pragmatic needs, recognizing that language change is constant and that openness to new terms can coexist with efforts to preserve linguistic heritage.