Adaptation of English Loan Words in Pahari: An Adaptability Scale Analysis

Abstract

This study unfolds the morphological incorporation of English words borrowed into Pahari language. To check the coincidence of morphological adaptation of English loan words in Pahari a tri- stratal loan words adaptability scale (AL Karuri, 1986) has been used that provides three levels of adaptability. It categorizes the words into merely adapted loan words (M.As), partially adapted loan words (P.As) and fully adapted loan words (F.As). This research is qualitative in nature and data has been collected through convenient sampling. Observation and audio recordings of Pahari speakers has been used as data collecting tool. The study reveals that when Pahari takes the loan from other languages, its morphological system is automatically activated to nativize the foreign word. Majority of Pahari morphological rules are applied on English loans wherever the requisite criteria is fulfilled. It also discovers the fact that Pahari contains M.As and P.As with zero analogical change in small amount. A new category of English P.As has been explored in Pahari which reflects morphological change by keeping the English phonology intact which is further divided into two sub classes. The research concludes that English F. As in Pahari are most commonly found loan words as compared to other two types.