Slavic False Cognates: A Cross-linguistic Comparison

Abstract

In its first part, the present paper compares the structure of false cognates between two Slavic languages (called here internal Slavic false cognates, using the example of Serbo-Croatian – Polish false cognates) with the structure of false cognates between a Slavic and non-Slavic language (termed external Slavic false cognates, using Serbo-Croatian – Polish examples). The analysis of the differences between these two types of false cognates is conducted with an eye toward proper treatment false cognates in second language acquisition. The ensuing second part of this paper outlines a possible agenda for the inclusion of these two types of false cognates into Slavic language teaching curricula. The majority of internal Slavic false cognates in this particular sample stems from different paths of the semantic development of common Slavic roots with some degree of different development of borrowed non-Slavic words. External Slavic false cognates mostly stem from the differences in the meanings of borrowed Latin words followed by a specific development of borrowed non-Slavic words. Both types of false cognates exhibit a clear albeit different pattern, with random identity or similarity being extremely rare. These patterns can be exploited in second language acquisition in developing global metacognitive strategies and concrete activities coupled with formative assessment objects.