Nativisation of swahili loanwords into kipsigis: An optimality theory approach

Abstract

This study focuses on nativisation of loanwords from Swahili language to Kipsigis dialect using Optimality Theory. Nativization is the process of making loanwords appear like native words in a language. OT is used in the explanation of Phonological and Morphological processes that words undergo when they are being nativised. The objectives of the study include; to describe the Morphological structure of Kipsigis words, to describe and analyze the various Phonological and Morphological processes involved in the integration of Swahili loanwords into Kipsigis Dialect and to describe the role of OT in adaptation of new words into Kipsigis Dialect. These objectives are met if the following research questions are answered; a) What is the form of internalised phonology of Kipsigis words? b) What are the Morphophonological processes that are involved in nativisation of Swahili loanwords into Kipsigis? c) How does OT account for nativisation of loanwords into Kipsigis? This research is restricted to Swahili loanwords into Kipsigis Dialect and therefore minimal input from other languages will be considered. The research also employs a descriptive research design where the phenomenon under study (i.e. borrowing) will be described accordingly. This description will be majored on loanwords from Swahili language to Kipsigis dialect. The methods of data collection to be used include questionnaires, interview schedule and reading passages. The collected data will finally be analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Afterwards, the results will be documented and ready for public consumptions.