Abstract

The present paper investigates the semantics of English loanwords in Arabic media language (AML). The loanword data are collected from a number of Arab Gulf states newspapers (AGSNs). They are analyzed semantically from the points of view of semantic change, semantic domains, and the phenomenon of synonymy resulting from lexical borrowing. The semantic analysis has revealed that AML borrowings from English occur in fifteen distinctive semantic domains. Domains that are related to terms of technical and scientific nature are found ranking much higher (9% - 18%) than those domains containing nontechnical elements (1% - 8%) with the computer and technology category (18%) is the most dominant domain. Almost all common mechanisms of semantic change (extension, restriction, amelioration, pejoration, and metaphorical extension) are found at work in the context of AML borrowings. The tendency of semantic change in the overwhelming majority of AML borrowings is towards restriction. Factors like need, semantic similarity, and factors of social and psychological considerations (e.g. prestige, taboo) seem to be the potent factors at interplay in semantic change. The first two, i.e. need and semantic similarity, are the most common reasons in most types of semantic change. The problem of synonymy lies in those loanwords that have “Arabic equivalents” in the language. The study claims that this phenomenon could be attributed to the two simultaneous processes of lexical borrowing and ?istiqa:q (the modern efforts of deriving equivalent neologisms).

Highlights

  • In the modern era, the influence of western languages ( English), as languages of both the traditional colonizers and the present dominant civilization, on Arabic is the more serious and widespread than that of any other languages of today (Boyle 2012, Mahmoud 2013, Newman 2002, Vasteegh 2010)

  • The present paper investigates the semantics of English loanwords in Arabic media language (AML)

  • The tendency of semantic change in the overwhelming majority of AML borrowings is towards restriction

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Summary

Introduction

The influence of western languages ( English), as languages of both the traditional colonizers and the present dominant civilization, on Arabic is the more serious and widespread than that of any other languages of today (Boyle 2012, Mahmoud 2013, Newman 2002, Vasteegh 2010). Arabic finds itself face to face with an immense number of foreign terminology. In the last four decades, Arabic media in general and Arabian Gulf media in particular has been invaded by tens of foreign elements borrowed from English language to fill a lexical need in written Arabic due to the strong presence of English in the various spheres of life. In the context of Arab Gulf states, English is employed in education, mass media, translation work, commercial and economic links and the Internet which possibly represent points of contact that certainly facilitate and reinforce the borrowing process from English into Arabic. The presence of this large number of expatriate labor force represents another source of influence of the accommodation of English borrowings into Arabic. The focus in this study, will be only the semantic implications of English loanwords as used in Arabic online newspapers of Arab Gulf states

The purpose of the study
Earlier studies
Data collection and methods
Semantic domains of English loanwords used in AGSNs
Semantic change in AML borrowings
Restriction
Extension
Pejoration and amelioration
Metaphorical extension
Possible factors to semantic change in AML borrowings
The phenomenon of synonymy as a consequence of lexical borrowing
Conclusion
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