VOWEL ADJUSTMENT IN KHOWAR: A PHONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH LOANWORDS

Abstract

Every living language incorporates new words to enhance its vocabulary. Khowar language, due to language contact, has borrowed numerous words from English that have been firmly integrated into its vocabulary. This study examines the incorporation of English loanwords into Khowar with a focus on the adjustment of English vowels. For this purpose, the study employs a descriptive design and qualitative research method for data collection. The data is collected using the technique of self-observation. A total of 54 loanwords are collected and out of the 54 loanwords, a sample of 38 loanwords demonstrate vowels in different positions that are not included in the phonemic inventory of Khowar. The data is analyzed according to Levenshtein's (1966) Distance Algorithm Model to investigate the phonemic variations in English loanwords. This study also adopts LaCharite & Paradis’ (2005) Phonological Repair Model which claims that when loanwords are incorporated into the target language, they undergo certain modifications. Based on the research findings, it is revealed that specific English vowels are absent in Khowar. Consequently, the recipient language modifies the English vowels by using phonemes already present in its phonemic inventory that are phonologically closest or replaces them entirely with different vowels. The findings show that the central vowels /ə/ and /ʌ/, the back vowel /ɒ/ as well as the closing diphthongs əʊ/, /eɪ/ and /aɪ/ are not present in the phonemic inventory of Khowar. Certain phonological processes, such as vowel substitution, vowel elision, and glide insertion, are applied to these English vowels to incorporate them into Khowar.