Thesis Abstract

ABSTRACT This research project delves into the intricate phenomenon of lexical borrowing from English to Hausa. The study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the process through which English words are integrated into the Hausa language. Lexical borrowing is a common linguistic phenomenon resulting from language contact, and it plays a significant role in enriching the vocabulary of a language. Hausa, as one of the major languages spoken in West Africa, has been influenced by English due to historical, social, and economic interactions between the Hausa-speaking community and English speakers. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing various linguistic tools and methods to examine the patterns, motivations, and implications of lexical borrowing from English to Hausa. Data collection involves a comprehensive analysis of English loanwords in contemporary Hausa language use, encompassing various domains such as technology, education, politics, and everyday life. The study also investigates the phonological, morphological, and semantic adaptations that English loanwords undergo when incorporated into the Hausa lexicon. Furthermore, the research explores the sociolinguistic aspects of lexical borrowing, considering factors such as language prestige, cultural influence, and language attitudes that contribute to the acceptance and integration of English loanwords in Hausa. The study investigates how the borrowed English words are perceived by Hausa speakers in different contexts and the extent to which they are assimilated into the linguistic system of Hausa. The findings of this research project are expected to shed light on the dynamics of language contact and lexical borrowing in multilingual settings. By examining the specific case of English loanwords in Hausa, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how languages interact and evolve through borrowing and adaptation. The research also has practical implications for language planning and policy, as it provides insights into the changing linguistic landscape of Hausa and the role of English borrowings in shaping its vocabulary. In conclusion, this research project offers a comprehensive analysis of lexical borrowing from English to Hausa, highlighting the linguistic, sociocultural, and practical dimensions of this phenomenon. The study contributes to the broader field of contact linguistics and serves as a valuable resource for scholars, language enthusiasts, and policymakers interested in the dynamics of language change and diversity.

Thesis Overview

1.0   Introduction

This project is centered on An In-depth Study on Lexical Borrowing from English to Hausa, with the aim to study the English and Hausa lexical loan words. The concept borrowing has been defined and explains by different scholars. It is a universal socio-linguistic phenomenon which is as a result of different cultures in contact, as a result of this contact cultural items filter freely from one culture to another.

This is true in the case of language as there is a dare need for communication between speakers of different language communities who come into contact. This is therefore in the case with language development through lexical borrowing in English and Hausa.

It is a common fact that no language can live in isolation without interacting with neibouring or other language around it. The interaction could be political, economic and social In a situation where a language remains without new words, there is every tendency that such language would logging behind other language.

The borrower words are often referred to technology e.g. machine, engine, telephone e.t.c. language which is the major need of any society.

It is almost impossible for any language to remain purely on its own unless the speakers do not leave their domain for another and similarly do not allow speakers of another language in to their domain. Lexical borrowing is common in most languages because no language is an inland on its own, it is on this note this project will discuss the phenomenon of language development through lexical borrowing. It is going to deal with study of English and Hausa language as each borrowing from one another.