The English language has a rich vocabulary with around 600.000 entries in the Oxford English Dictionary and is nowadays spoken in countries all over the world. Therefore, many languages have borrowed words from the English language and adopted them into their language. So did the German language accept anglicism in many aspects of everyday life and borrowed terms like baby or steak which are now fully adapted and a part of the German language. However, there is also Germanism in the English language, or better said original German words appearing in the British and American English language today, called loanwords. When confronting people with the term “German loanword” they normally only come up with a few examples like Aberglaube or Bratwurst. But how frequent are they actually used in British English (BrE) and American English (AmE) and how are different spelling norms applied?
Loanwords might have gone through a process of different spelling variations during time. Nonetheless, this study will only focus on synchronic spelling differences in British and American English. The original German spelling will also be compared with the English one. It is a corpus-based study and the aim is to clarify the usage and integration of german loanwords in the British and American English language today. As there exist many german loanwords, after all, this study only takes a few loanwords into consideration. There are a lot of different semantic fields of borrowing, for instance, science, food, education et cetera. For my research I have selected a variation out of the following three categories: Food, Society and Music.
This paper is structured as the following. Firstly, the term loanword is being defined as well as previous studies regarding spelling modifications are given and the chosen loanwords are presented. Chapter three gives inside in the work with the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the British National Corpus (BNC) and the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) and mentions limitations of the research design. The following chapter four presents a clear overview of synchronic spelling differences for the chosen loanwords, which are then discussed regarding previous studies in chapter five. Finally, the last chapter summaries the findings of the paper while also adding some suggestions for future research.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Theoretical Background
- 2.1 The definition of the term "loanword"
- 2.2 History of German loanwords
- 2.3 Typical orthographical modifications of loanwords
- 2.4 Chosen loanwords and expectations
- 3 Methodology
- 3.1 Oxford English Dictionary
- 3.2 Corpora
- 3.3 Limitations of the research design
- 4 Results
- 4.1 Synchronic spelling differences of the chosen loanwords
- 4.2 Frequency of loanword spelling variations comparing AmE with BrE
- 4.3 Different phonemes and orthographical changes in AmE and BrE compared to German
- 4.4 Other abnormalities
- 5 Discussion
- 5.1 Synchronic spelling differences comparing BrE and AmE
- 5.2 English spelling compared to German spelling
- 5.3 Differences in categories
Objectives and Key Themes
This study aims to investigate the synchronic spelling variations of German loanwords in British English (BrE) and American English (AmE). It seeks to clarify the usage and integration of these loanwords in contemporary English, comparing them to their original German spellings. The research focuses on a selection of loanwords from three semantic fields: Food, Society, and Music.
- Synchronic spelling differences of German loanwords in BrE and AmE.
- Comparison of English and German spellings of loanwords.
- The influence of phonetic modifications on the spelling of loanwords.
- Frequency of spelling variations across different corpora (BrE vs. AmE).
- Categorization and analysis of spelling variations across semantic fields.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of German loanwords in English, highlighting the vast vocabulary of English and the prevalence of loanwords from various languages. It emphasizes the focus on synchronic spelling differences in BrE and AmE, and the specific selection of loanwords from the categories of Food, Society, and Music. The chapter outlines the structure of the paper, previewing the methodology, results, and discussion sections.
2 Theoretical Background: This chapter provides a detailed definition of the term "loanword," differentiating it from loan translations. It explores various classifications of loanwords, referencing J. Allan Pfeffer's eight categories. The chapter delves into the history of German loanwords in English, contrasting "intimate borrowing" (through conversation) with "cultural borrowing" (through writing). This section also examines typical orthographical modifications undergone by loanwords as they adapt to the English language system.
3 Methodology: This chapter details the research methodology, outlining the resources used, including the Oxford English Dictionary, the British National Corpus (BNC), and the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). It also addresses potential limitations of the research design, providing transparency and acknowledging potential challenges in the study.
4 Results: This chapter presents the findings of the corpus-based study, focusing on the synchronic spelling differences observed in the selected German loanwords within BrE and AmE. It details the frequency of spelling variations, comparing AmE and BrE usage and highlighting differences in phonemes and orthographical changes compared to the original German spellings. Any unusual or unexpected findings are also discussed.
5 Discussion: This chapter analyzes the results presented in Chapter 4, interpreting the findings in light of existing research and theories on loanword adaptation. It compares and contrasts the synchronic spelling differences between BrE and AmE, exploring the reasons behind the observed variations. The discussion examines how the observed spelling differences fit into existing categories of loanword adaptation and discusses deviations from established patterns.
Keywords
German loanwords, British English, American English, synchronic spelling variations, orthography, phonetics, corpus linguistics, Oxford English Dictionary, British National Corpus, Corpus of Contemporary American English, loanword adaptation, semantic fields, food, society, music.
German Loanwords in British and American English: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main topic of this research paper?
This research paper investigates the synchronic (contemporary) spelling variations of German loanwords in British English (BrE) and American English (AmE). It compares the spellings of these loanwords in contemporary English to their original German spellings.
What are the key themes explored in the study?
The study explores synchronic spelling differences between BrE and AmE in German loanwords, compares English and German spellings of these words, analyzes the influence of phonetic changes on spelling, examines the frequency of spelling variations across different corpora (BrE vs. AmE), and categorizes and analyzes spelling variations across semantic fields (Food, Society, and Music).
What is the methodology used in the study?
The research uses a corpus-based approach, employing the Oxford English Dictionary, the British National Corpus (BNC), and the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) to analyze the spelling variations of selected German loanwords. The study acknowledges potential limitations of the research design.
Which loanwords were specifically examined?
The specific loanwords analyzed are not listed in this preview. However, the study focuses on loanwords from three semantic fields: Food, Society, and Music.
What are the key findings of the study (as previewed)?
The preview highlights findings related to synchronic spelling differences in BrE and AmE for the selected loanwords, the frequency of these spelling variations, differences in phonemes and orthographical changes compared to German, and any unusual or unexpected findings.
How does the study define "loanword"?
The study provides a detailed definition of "loanword," differentiating it from loan translations and exploring various classifications, referencing J. Allan Pfeffer's eight categories. It also discusses the history of German loanwords in English, including "intimate" and "cultural" borrowing.
What are the limitations of the research?
The preview mentions that the study addresses potential limitations of the research design, suggesting a transparent acknowledgement of potential challenges inherent in the analysis.
What are the main conclusions of the study (as previewed)?
The preview indicates that the discussion chapter analyzes the results, comparing and contrasting synchronic spelling differences between BrE and AmE and exploring the reasons behind the variations. It also examines how these differences fit into existing categories of loanword adaptation and discusses deviations from established patterns.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include: German loanwords, British English, American English, synchronic spelling variations, orthography, phonetics, corpus linguistics, Oxford English Dictionary, British National Corpus, Corpus of Contemporary American English, loanword adaptation, semantic fields, food, society, music.
Where can I find the full text of the research paper?
The full text of the research paper is not included here; this is only a preview. The location of the complete study is not specified.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2019, The usage and integration of German loanwords in British and American English. How are different spelling norms applied?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/513754
