The Use of English Loanwords in Balti Language

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the English loan words in Balti with a focus on number assignment. This study also sheds light on phonological and semantic changes that the loan words undergo and the factors affecting the linguistic changes. The analysis is based on 35 nominal loanwords culled from 3 local radio podcasts in Balti. The result showed that most of the English loan words were pluralized attaching the Balti plural markers {kʊn} and {ʊŋ} following the phonological conditioned rule in order not to violate the phonological and morphological system of the native language. However, only one instance of an irregular plural pattern of English loan word in Balti was found that the loan word /sɪnəmə/ “cinema” ends in a vowel sound /ə/. Still, it does not follow the phonologically conditioned plural rule of Balti and takes the plural marker /kʊn/ instead of /ʊŋ/. The finding also revealed that the English loanwords have also undergone phonological and morphological changes in Balti to fit into the linguistic system of the native. Moreover, we can determine that the only reason for the adaptation of English loanwords in Balti is due to the lack of corresponding terms in the Balti language. Based on the research outcomes, it has significant pedagogical implications for the ESL teachers who are serving in Baltistan. The study concludes with a recommendation for further research on loanwords concerning the plural formation of Urdu loanwords in Balti.