English Abstract
Abstract :
This research explores the phenomenon of lexical borrowing from English into the
Bahraini Arabic dialect. For that purpose, 166 English loanwords in Bahraini Arabic
have been compiled for linguistic analysis. In this study, we investigate the different
semantic domains of these words. Moreover, we explore the phonological processes
that English loanwords in Bahraini Arabic undergo in the adaptation process.
Furthermore, this study also examines the morphological adaptations that these words
go through when adapted to Bahraini Arabic. Additionally, it explores the semantic
changes English loanwords undergo in the process of lexical borrowing into Bahraini
Arabic. Results indicate that nativization, declusterization, gemination, deletion and
pharyngealization are the main phonological processes that feature in the adaptation
process. Moreover, according to our morphological analysis, some English loanwords
in Bahraini Arabic can undergo the process of pluralization showing both regular
pluralization pattern -a:t as well as some irregular patterns. Gender assignment was also
a feature that English loanwords in Bahraini Arabic undergo. One of our primary results
show that nouns are the most dominant grammatical category to be borrowed from.
Loan verbs, adjectives and adverbs are also explored in this study. In terms of semantic
features, English loanwords in Bahraini Arabic go through the various processes of
transfer, narrowing as well as widening of meaning. Additionally, amelioration and
pejoration are other semantic changes that English loanwords in Bahraini Arabic went
through.
