Towards the Semantics of Some Lexical Borrowings from Afrikaans into English

Authors

  • Inga Zadvorni Author

Keywords:

Afrikaans, English, borrowing, etymology, semantics

Abstract

This paper discusses etymology and semantics of 4 Afrikaans lexical items (apartheid, boer, trek, rooibos) that entered the English language. Historical linguistics and semantics form the theoretical basis of the analysis. The empirical data have been drawn from the authoritative dictionaries of English and internet resources. The semantic extensions of the borrowings in question have been examined within the socio-political and cultural framework. The paper shows how these initially culture-specific terms have evolved semantically and become an essential part of the English vocabulary.

Author Biography

  • Inga Zadvorni

    I am a second-year student at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. I study English philology, but in addition to that, I also study at the Faculty of Psychology, which I have chosen as an additional specialty.

References

Afrikaans, (n.d.). Retrieved April 7, 2023, from: https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/afrikaans/

Algeo, J. (2010) The origins and development of the English language (6 th ed.). https://ekladata.com/LP-DowGWP2jGZ75kxCZ9PrGnUEg/The-Origins-andDevelopment-of-the-English-Language-6th-ed.-J.-Algeo-Cengage-2010-BBS.pdf. Boston:Wadsworth.

Apartheid in South Africa (October 7, 2010). Retrieved April 27, 2023 from: https://www.history.com/topics/africa/apartheid.

Collinsdictionary. (n.d). Apartheid; Trek. In Collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023, from: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/.

Cowie, A. (2009). Oxford introductions to language study. Semantics. ..https://lic.haui.edu.vn/media/Book_NN/th%E1%BA%A1c%20s%E1%BB%B9%20N N%20ANh/semantics%201.pdf. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Apartheid, Boer. In Dictionary.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023, from: https://www.dictionary.com.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Apartheid, Trek. In Merriam-Webster. Com dictionary. Retrieved April 23, 2023, from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/.

Rooibos tea - A history, (12 May, 2022). Retrieved May 12, 2023, from: https://www.exoticteapot.co.uk/blog/rooibos-tea-a-history.

Daisley, S. (2011). South African 'Boer' War. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/south-african-boer-war/the-boers.

The National Archives of Georgia has published the Diary of Niko Bagration. (December 1, 2017). Retrieved May 10, 2023, from: https://archive.gov.ge/en/news/erovnulma-arqivma-niko-buris-dgiuri-gamosca.

Published

2024-05-17

How to Cite

Towards the Semantics of Some Lexical Borrowings from Afrikaans into English. (2024). Philology (Students’ Journal), 1, 7. https://philology.tsu.ge/philology/article/view/61