INTERTEXTUALITY AND LINGUISTIC BORROWING IN RIDDLES

Abstract

Riddles, as an ancient form of linguistic play, often draw upon inter-textual references and borrowings from folklore, mythology, literature, and everyday discourse. This article explores how riddles reflect the linguistic and cultural mosaic of the communities that produce them, demonstrating the dynamic interplay between language and shared cultural narratives. By analyzing examples from various languages and traditions, the study highlights the role of intertextuality in riddle construction, showing how borrowed phrases, proverbs, and idiomatic expressions are transformed to obscure meaning and engage the audience. The findings suggest that riddles serve not only as entertainment but also as a repository of linguistic heritage, preserving and adapting language across generations. The article concludes by examining how the process of linguistic borrowing in riddles contributes to the enrichment and diversification of lexical and syntactic structures within a language.