Abstract: This article explores the phenomenon of implicit knowledge of English vocabulary among Russian and Kazakh speakers who have not formally studied the language. The purpose of the study is to analyze and systematize the most frequent English lexical borrowings used in everyday contexts, including technology, household goods, business, sports, fashion, and food. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method to identify and categorize these borrowings, highlighting their integration into the semantic fields of the recipient languages. The analysis reveals that a modern individual subconsciously recognizes and actively uses over a hundred English words. However, the article also notes cases of 'false friends' where borrowed words acquire different meanings, potentially leading to communicative misunderstandings. The conclusions emphasize the significance of this implicit knowledge as a foundation for formal language learning and underscore the importance of understanding the true semantics of borrowings to avoid pragmatic failures.

Аннотация: Статья исследует феномен скрытого (имплицитного) знания английской лексики среди носителей русского и казахского языков, не изучавших его специально. Цель работы – анализ и систематизация наиболее частотных английских лексических заимствований, используемых в повседневных контекстах: технологиях, бытовых товарах, бизнесе, спорте, моде и кулинарии. В исследовании применяется описательно-аналитический метод для выявления и категоризации данных заимствований, демонстрирующий их интеграцию в семантические поля языков-реципиентов. Анализ показывает, что современный человек подсознательно узнаёт и активно использует более сотни английских слов. Отмечаются также случаи 'ложных друзей переводчика', когда заимствованные слова приобретают иное значение, что может привести к коммуникативным сбоям. Выводы подчеркивают значимость этого имплицитного знания как основы для формального изучения языка и важность понимания истинной семантики заимствований во избежание прагматических неудач.

Introduction. In the era of globalization, the English language has solidified its position as the primary lingua franca of international communication, science, technology, business, and popular culture [1, p. 3]. Its influence extends far beyond direct communication between native and non-native speakers, permeating other languages through a continuous and massive influx of lexical borrowings. For speakers of languages like Russian and Kazakh, this creates a paradoxical situation: individuals who claim no proficiency in English often possess a significant passive vocabulary consisting of borrowed words fully integrated into their native lexicon. This phenomenon raises questions about the scale of this implicit knowledge, the spheres of life most affected by Anglicisms, and the potential communicative pitfalls associated with their use.

The relevance of this topic is twofold. From a sociolinguistic perspective, it reflects the dynamic processes of language contact and change in the 21st century. From a practical, pedagogical standpoint, identifying and acknowledging this 'hidden' vocabulary can be a powerful motivational tool in formal language education, demonstrating to learners that they are not starting from zero. The theoretical significance lies in the systematic observation of lexical borrowing mechanisms, while the practical value is in raising linguistic awareness among speakers, helping them navigate the nuances of meaning between the source language (English) and the recipient language (e.g., Russian or Kazakh). This article aims to catalog and analyze the most common English borrowings encountered in everyday life by Russian speakers, thereby illustrating the extent of their implicit English knowledge and highlighting semantic shifts that can lead to misunderstanding.

Main Part. The process of lexical borrowing is a natural consequence of cultural and technological exchange. When a new concept, object, or phenomenon enters a society, it often arrives with its original name. Over time, these borrowings can become fully assimilated, with speakers no longer perceiving them as foreign. The Russian language, throughout its history, has absorbed words from various languages, with the late 20th and early 21st centuries marked by a dominant wave of Anglicisms [2, p. 45]. A similar trend is observed in modern Kazakh.

This implicit knowledge of English manifests across numerous everyday domains:

1. Technology and Digital Environment: The lexicon of computing and digital interfaces is overwhelmingly English-based. Words like computer, laptop, mouse, display, file, folder, and commands such as Enter, Delete, Backspace, Shift, Control (Ctrl), and Alt are used internationally with little to no translation. Social media has introduced terms like post, like, share, trend, and feed. The abbreviation IT (Information Technology) is globally recognized.

2. Consumer Goods and Branding: Marketing strategies often rely on English names to convey modernity, quality, or a certain lifestyle. Household product brands like Fairy (dish soap), Mr. Proper (cleaning agent), Vanish (stain remover), Tide, and Ariel are commonplace. Names of clothing brands (Zara, H&M), electronics (Apple, Samsung models like Galaxy), and cars (Ford Focus, Toyota Camry) further embed English roots into daily life.

3. Business and Management: The globalized economy operates largely on English terminology. Words such as manager, meeting, briefing, deadline, startup, leader, summit, businessman, marketing, brand, and PR (Public Relations) are integral to professional discourse in many countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan.

4. Sports and Entertainment: The names of many popular sports are English borrowings: football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, boxing. Fitness culture brings fitness itself, training, coach, stretching. From cinema and music, words like blockbuster, thriller, remake, hit, single, and chart are widely used.

5. Food and Dining: The globalization of cuisine has introduced numerous food terms: burger, hot dog, sandwich, cheesecake, cupcake, pancake, pudding. Brand names of confectionery like Snickers, Twix, Bounty, and Milky Way are recognized by children and adults alike. Beverage names like cappuccino (via Italian, but globally popularized in English), latte, and smoothie are also common.

6. Fashion and Clothing: The world of fashion is replete with English terms: jeans, t-shirt, sweater, hoodie, sneakers, look, style, trendy, sale. Materials and styles often retain their English names.

This extensive, albeit passive, vocabulary demonstrates that for a typical urban dweller, the answer to "Do you know any English?" can confidently be "Yes, more than a hundred words." This knowledge is acquired not through study, but through cultural osmosis—constant exposure to technology interfaces, advertising, media, and globalized consumer culture.

However, this implicit knowledge is not without its dangers. The most significant risk arises from so-called "false friends" or "interlingual homographs"—words that sound or look similar in two languages but have different meanings [5, p. 89]. A classic and often-cited example is the word occupation. In English, its primary meaning is "a job or profession." In Russian, the cognate word «оккупация» («okkupatsiya») means "military occupation" or "the seizure of territory." This semantic divergence can lead to serious communicative failures, as illustrated by the anecdote where a Russian tourist, asked for his "occupation" by a German border officer, misunderstands it as "military occupation" and nervously replies, "No, no, just visiting!"

Other potential false friends include accurate (Eng.: precise; Rus. «аккуратный» often means "neat, tidy"), artist (Eng.: a visual artist; Rus. «артист» often means "performer, actor"), and magazine (Eng.: periodical; Rus. «магазин» means "shop"). These examples underscore that recognizing a word is not equivalent to understanding its precise semantic field in the source language. The borrowing process often involves semantic narrowing, broadening, or shift.

Conclusion. The analysis confirms the initial hypothesis: English is truly "around us," and its lexical presence in the daily life of a Russian or Kazakh speaker is profound and multifaceted. An individual passively acquires a vocabulary spanning technology, business, consumer culture, sports, and entertainment, easily exceeding one hundred lexical units. This implicit knowledge represents a valuable cognitive resource and a tangible starting point for formal English language acquisition. Recognizing these words can lower the psychological barrier for learners and build confidence. However, the study also highlights a critical caveat: borrowed words are not always semantic equivalents of their English originals. Cases of "false friends," like occupation/оккупация, serve as a reminder that linguistic awareness must extend beyond mere word recognition to an understanding of meaning, connotation, and usage. To avoid pragmatic failures and deepen true language competence, this implicit knowledge must be consciously activated, verified, and systematized through study. Therefore, the final message is dualistic: one can indeed "speak" some English without formal study, but to communicate effectively and accurately, moving beyond potential misunderstandings, systematic learning remains essential. The omnipresence of English lexicon provides not just a convenient shortcut for casual recognition, but also a compelling reason to engage more deeply with the language, transforming passive, context-bound knowledge into active, communicative competence.

References

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3. Sarybaev, Sh. S. Lexical Borrowings in the Kazakh Language (Late 20th – Early 21st Century) / Sh. S. Sarybaev. – Almaty: Gylym, 2018. – 150 б.