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Osisanwo, Aina & Bolaji (2021) Yoruba Borrowed Nouns in English .pdf
Journal of Linguistics, Language and Igbo Studies (2021)
  • Ezekiel Tunde Bolaji
Abstract
The  contact  between  Yoruba  and  English  has  resulted  in  lexical  and post  lexical  exchanges  between  the  two  languages,  with  such contact-induced  changes  as  code-switching,  and  borrowing,  among others.  This  paper  investigates  how  Yoruba  words  have  been borrowed  into  Standard  British  English  (SBE).  It  discusses  the nature  of  the  borrowings,  in  relation  to  their  forms,  structures,  and morphophonemic  characteristics.  The  paper  also  identifies  the phonological  rules  that  trigger  them, and  their  adaptation  strategies. The theoretical  analytical  tools  adopted  for  the  study  was  Generative Phonology.  Findings  of  the  study  reveal  that  the  most  active phonological  processes  for  lexical  adaptation  are  place  assimilation and laryngeal assimilation. At the post-lexical level, morphophonemic  analysis  reveals  that  [-s]  plural  allomorphs  are realised  as  either  [s]  or  [z],  depending  on  its  phonological environment.  Borrowed  items  are  adapted  through  the  activation  of assimilation rule, deletion rule, as well  as bleeding  and feeding  rule ordering  relationships.  The  paper  concludes  that  Yorùbá  borrowings in  English  are  real,  manifest  in  both  lexical  and  post-lexical  forms, and  have  come  to  stay.  Finally,  this  study  recommends  that  a  similar, but  cross-linguistic  study  be  carried  out  on  borrowing  forms  from other  African  languages  into  English  and  other  European  languages.    
Keywords
  • Morphophonemics,
  • Standard British English,
  • Yorùbá language,
  • borrowing,
  • assimilation
Disciplines
Publication Date
Summer December 1, 2021
Citation Information
Ezekiel Tunde Bolaji. "Osisanwo, Aina & Bolaji (2021) Yoruba Borrowed Nouns in English .pdf" Journal of Linguistics, Language and Igbo Studies Vol. 3 Iss. 1 (2021) p. 51 - 68
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ezekiel_bolaji/43/