The Dynamics of Language Contact. English Loanwords Assimilation in IciBemba, Zambia

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2023 in the subject African Studies - Linguistics, Kwame Nkrumah University (LANGUAGES), course: LINGUISTICS, language: English, abstract: The process of 'borrowing' in linguistics, also known as the incorporation of 'loan words,' is a universal phenomenon that occurs when two languages or dialects come into contact. In such interactions, words are typically taken from the dominant or 'master's' language by the language spoken by those who perceive themselves to be in a weaker position. In the context discussed here, the master's language is English, and the language in a perceived weaker position is IciBemba, a Bantu language widely spoken in Zambia. The findings shed light on the intricate processes involved in the linguistic assimilation of loanwords and contribute to a deeper understanding of language contact phenomena between English and IciBemba. IciBemba has undergone substantial lexical enrichment through the assimilation of loanwords from English. This paper explores the strategies employed in integrating English loanwords into the IciBemba vocabulary. The data for this study were collected from various sources, including books, public gatherings, and fieldwork conducted in Kasama, Northern Province. The theoretical frameworks guiding this exploration are the Theory of Constraint and Repair Strategy (TCRS) proposed by Paradis and Lacharité (1997) and Assimilation Theory articulated by McMahon (1994), Campbell (1998), and Winford (2003). These frameworks provide insights into the phonological and morphological modifications and processes that loanwords undergo when integrated into the IciBemba language.