This article examines the use of borrowings in Lithuanian from the linguistic perspective. The aim of the article is to discuss the most significant theoretical approaches to the integration of borrowings, to analyze new borrowings taken from different lingua franca, to determine the etymology of them, as well as to analyze the types of their integration taking into account the degree of their assimilation. The research work is based on the examples drawn from the list of borrowings, made by the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language in 2010-2015. This study establishes the differences between lexical borrowings and their Lithuanian standardised and non-standardised equivalents and shows what types of them are gradually becoming a norm in Lithuanian.

Xenisms are non-native linguistic elements with a zero level of assimilation in the borrowing language. They do not influence the system of the borrowing language and remain outside it. The only feature that connects xenisms with the foreign language, in this case German, is their spelling, which corresponds to German orthographic norms. Since xenisms do not show any signs of assimilation and are linguistic structures that differ completely from German, they cannot be described from the perspective of assimilation processes. Nevertheless, they are of interest to linguists as units capable of performing stylistic functions in a text. Xenisms are found in texts published in the magazine „Der Spiegel“. The article attempts to describe the functions performed by xenisms, the most important of which are the expressive function, quotation, naming a new object, creating temporal and local colouring, and adding a comic effect.