Linguistic Borrowing A Cross-Cultural Study of English-Arabic Loanwords

Abstract

In a cross-cultural relationship Standard English and Standard Arabic languages come into contact to lend and borrow words reciprocally. Usually the borrowed word does not represent a mere rigid linguistic form, but a portrayal of the cultural and historical background of the source language. Having adopted a different perspective, the study investigates the phenomenon of borrowing from a cultural viewpoint. Chapter one projects an investigation about the concept of culture and its features. Different reasons behind borrowing are dealt with as an integral part of the survey of the phenomenon of borrowing. Chapter two illustrates a sample of the English loanwords in Arabic. Chapter three demonstrates a sample of the Arabic loanwords in English. Finally, the findings and conclusions of the study are pointed out through the conclusion part.