What are language borrowings? This topic undoubtedly concerns each of us. It is discussed in school, in textbooks, in scientific literature and on Internet forums. At the same time, popular excursions into the field of borrowings published in Russia mostly come down to the topic of foreign words in the Russian language. But what is borrowing in general, by what signs do we distinguish it, why does it arise in a language, why is it resisted? There hasn’t been a book about it yet. English philologist Maria Eliferova tried to fill this gap. Showing how languages interact with each other and how the fate of borrowings develops (we are not just talking about words), the author, along with examples from Russian culture, history and literature, turns to French, German, Spanish and more exotic languages from various parts of the world ball. This information-rich and serious book happily combines the depth of scientific analysis with accessible lively presentation, humor and loyalty to rebels and violators of norms and canons.