Phonological Adaptation of English Loanwords in Urdu
A Natural Phonology Approach
Keywords:
phonological adaptation, loanwords, natural phonology, Urdu linguistics, language contactAbstract
This study examines the phonological adaptation of the English loanwords into Urdu. The data were drawn from the sources of routine conversational contexts. Employing David Stampe’s natural phonology theoretical framework, the study reveals how Urdu speakers systematically modify the English loanwords to get them aligned with the indigenous phonotactic constraints and linguistic conventions. The major adaptation mechanisms identified include syllabic restructuring, vowel insertion, sound elimination, phonemic assimilation, and substitution processes. The results demonstrate that speakers indigenize English phonemes and syllables, and insert vowels in certain contexts.
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