This essay was written as an elaboration for my final oral exam in winter term 2008/2009. It is supposed to give information about the importance of the lish language as a global language and the process of direct loaning as a result, the process of indirect loaning, pseudo and hybrid anglicisms, and aspects of direct and indirect loan coinage. It will also investigate on the prestige status of English and the loaning of sayings, phrases and idioms, and the role of the trend of internationalisation of languages like German or France. It will conclude with an attempt to approach the question whether English will make other es obsolete in the future.
Table of Contents
(1) The Importance of the English Language
(2) What are Anglicisms? / Direct Loaning
(3) The Process of Indirect (or Secondary) Loaning
(4) Pseudo Anglicisms
(5) Hybrid Anglicisms
(6) Direct and Indirect Loan Coinage
(7) The Prestige Status of English and the loaning of Sayings, Phrases, and Idioms
(8) Trend: Internationalisation of Languages
(9) Conclusion: Anglicisms as Markers for the Future of an Anglified World – Will English make Other Languages Obsolete?
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the dominance of the English language as a global medium and its profound linguistic impact on other languages. It investigates various mechanisms of lexical borrowing, including direct and indirect loaning, the formation of pseudo and hybrid anglicisms, and the adoption of English idiomatic expressions due to its high prestige status.
- The historical and economic drivers behind English as a global language.
- Linguistic mechanisms of direct, indirect, and hybrid borrowing.
- The phenomenon of pseudo-anglicisms and word-formational creativity.
- The prestige-driven adoption of English idioms and cultural phrases.
- Sociolinguistic perspectives on language contact and the fear of linguistic obsolescence.
Excerpt from the Book
(4) Pseudo Anglicisms
Another phenomenon is the “making up” of anglicisms, so-called pseudo anglicisms. It may additionally point out the international prestige status of the English language; but in fact such made up expressions do not exist in the English language, despite their Anglophone characteristic:
“Zapping” (orig.: channel hopping)
“Handy” (orig.: mobile phone)
“Showmaster” (orig.: master of ceremony, host)
“Pulli” (orig.: pullover)
The following words have entered Dutch dictionaries, butnot (yet) English dictionaries:
“home trainer” (orig.: exercise machine)
“speaker box” (orig.: speaker)
In Hungarian and French:
“rekordman” (orig.: record holder)
These examples show that all borrowings from the English language qualify as anglicisms, while not all anglicisms are in fact the result of a borrowing process.
Particularly in German-speaking areas, the creating of pseudo anglicisms occurs relatively frequently. Since those pseudo anglicisms originate within the German language, they cannot be considered borrowings in terms of lexical unity, rather are they marked as English signs in German. And they represent the word formational capabilities of the German language.
Summary of Chapters
(1) The Importance of the English Language: Examines the geopolitical and economic reasons behind the global supremacy of English, originating from British colonialism and the US economy.
(2) What are Anglicisms? / Direct Loaning: Defines anglicisms as loan words and explains the direct adoption process where terms are integrated into recipient languages with phonological or orthographic adjustments.
(3) The Process of Indirect (or Secondary) Loaning: Discusses how words travel through intermediary languages before entering a target language, using the example of the word "wagon".
(4) Pseudo Anglicisms: Explores terms that appear English but are actually constructed within other languages, often reflecting the perceived prestige of English.
(5) Hybrid Anglicisms: Analyzes the combination of English loanwords with domestic linguistic elements to create new terms, such as "Wunderkids" or "internetzfähig".
(6) Direct and Indirect Loan Coinage: Distinguishes between direct borrowings and loan translations, where native language material is used to replicate foreign concepts.
(7) The Prestige Status of English and the loaning of Sayings, Phrases, and Idioms: Highlights how the fashionable status of English leads to the adoption of idioms and phrases beyond technical jargon.
(8) Trend: Internationalisation of Languages: Describes the global trend toward language internationalisation, which facilitates the cross-cultural adoption of common terms in professional and scientific fields.
(9) Conclusion: Anglicisms as Markers for the Future of an Anglified World – Will English make Other Languages Obsolete?: Argues that while English influence is significant, it does not necessarily threaten the survival of other languages, emphasizing bilingualism and cultural resilience.
Keywords
Anglicisms, Linguistics, Loan words, Pseudo-anglicisms, Hybridization, Global English, Sociolinguistics, Language contact, Borrowing, Internationalisation, Phonology, Orthography, Cultural prestige, Idiomatic expressions, Bilingualism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this essay?
The essay examines the influence of the English language on other languages, focusing on the mechanisms of borrowing, adaptation, and the sociolinguistic reasons for this global trend.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the text?
Key areas include the mechanisms of direct and indirect loaning, the formation of pseudo and hybrid anglicisms, and the sociocultural prestige that drives the adoption of English terms.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The aim is to investigate how English functions as a global language and to address the critical question of whether this widespread influence poses a threat of obsolescence to other languages.
Which scientific approach is used?
The author uses a linguistic and sociolinguistic approach, referencing academic experts like Görlach, Crystal, and Onysko to analyze historical trends and word-formational processes.
What does the main body of the text specifically cover?
It details the technical processes of lexical borrowing—ranging from simple direct loaning to complex hybrid coinages—and examines how idiomatic expressions and cultural prestige fuel language change.
Which keywords best characterize the essay?
The work is defined by terms such as Anglicisms, Loan words, Language contact, Sociolinguistics, Global English, and Linguistic adaptation.
How does the author define a "pseudo-anglicism"?
A pseudo-anglicism is a word or expression constructed in a non-English language that sounds or appears English but does not exist in the actual English language.
Does the author conclude that English will make other languages obsolete?
No, the author argues that historical evidence and the rise of movements supporting linguistic minorities suggest that English influence generally enriches rather than replaces other languages.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Alexander Täuschel (Author), 2008, Anglicisms and their Influence on Other Languages, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/119299
