A World in Words: The Impact of Borrowings and Loanwords on the English Lexicon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69760/portuni.010211Keywords:
loanwords, lexical borrowing, English vocabulary, language contactAbstract
This article examines the profound influence of borrowings and loanwords on the development of the English language. Drawing upon lexicographical data and historical linguistic research, the study demonstrates that over 70% of English vocabulary originates from foreign sources, with significant contributions from French, Latin, Greek, and Old Norse. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative surveys with qualitative historical interpretation, the article explores the range of donor languages and the sociocultural contexts in which lexical borrowing occurred. It further analyzes how borrowings have shaped English morphology, register variation, and stylistic richness. The findings confirm that loanwords have not diluted the English language but have expanded its expressive range and global adaptability. Ultimately, the study argues that loanwords function as linguistic artifacts, preserving the history of cultural contact and exchange that has shaped English across centuries.
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