Abstract:
The study was to linguistically analyze loanwords in Anufo. The study set forth to
assess the kinds /types of words that are borrowed into Anufo. The study was again,
to determine the phonological and morphological processes that affect loanwords in
Anufo. The research approach used was qualitative and the design is case study. The
data collection strategies used for the study were interview, observation and
documents. The theoretical framework used for the study is Basic Linguistic Theory
(Dixon 1997). The study established that Anufo has historically and socially heavily
borrowed words from the three main languages, English, Likpakpaln and Akan, to fill
lexical gaps. Apart from nouns, the main types of words that are borrowed into Anufo
are adjectives, verbs, adverbs and conjunctions. Phonologically, it came out that
Anufo has twenty-seven consonant sounds while English has twenty four. This study
is distinct from others because it looks at loanwords from three different languages:
English, Likpakpaln and Twi. Borrowing in Anufo is distinct from other Ghanaian
languages such as Likpakpaln. This is because Likpakpaln has closed syllable types
like that of English language. Anufo syllables are of the open type therefore, when the
borrowed word has a closed syllable, it has to be repaired in order to be nativized. The
study contributes greatly to the literature of loanwords because it has been realized
that no vowel apart from /a/ can occur at word initial position of Anufo. So, when a
borrowed word into Anufo has a vowel other than /a/ at its initial position needs to go
through some repair strategies in order for such a word to be nativised. A semantic
and a comparative study of loanwords are recommended in order to find out
differences and similarities of loanword adaptation strategies in the Ghanaian
languages.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Applied Linguistics,
Faculty of Foreign Languages Education and Communication,
submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree
Master of Philosophy
(Applied Linguistics)
in the University of Education, Winneba
NOVEMBER, 2020