An  analysis of adaptation of the Loanwords in Kikuyu technological Words

GACHAU ELENA NYAGUTHII; ANASHIA NANCY ONG’ONDA

doi:10.31686/ijier.vol6.iss3.996

Authors

GACHAU ELENA NYAGUTHII Mount Kenya University, Kenya
ANASHIA NANCY ONG’ONDA Mount Kenya University, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol6.iss3.996

Keywords:

Kikuyu language, English language, Loanword, borrowing, loan adaptation

Abstract

This paper examines loanwords adopted by native Gikuyu speakers to nativise English technological words using the theoretical framework of Optimality Theory as initiated by Prince and Smolensky (1993). Loanword adaptation is a linguistic phenomenon that occurs cross linguistically whenever one language interacts with another language. However, there are stipulations to borrowing because loanwords must be adapted to fit the second language’s Phonology system. Drawing from a sample of 80 words collected from the domain of technology, medicine, education and agriculture, the study found that Gikuyu speakers use processes such as insertion, deletion, vowel substitution and preservation to nativist borrowed word from English. The study also found out that this process occurs because of the tolerance threshold to segment preservation within a given constraint domain and due to distinctive features in English language and Gikuyu language.

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Author Biographies

GACHAU ELENA NYAGUTHII, Mount Kenya University, Kenya

Associate Lecturer
ANASHIA NANCY ONG’ONDA, Mount Kenya University, Kenya

Head of the Department
Languages and Humanities

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