PHONOLOGICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF ENGLISH BORROWED WORDS ON TIGRINYA BILLBOARDS

Abstract

Tigrinya language, like many others, continuously expands its lexicon by borrowing words, particularly from English. This study provides a descriptive analysis of English borrowed words found on Tigrinya billboards in Mekelle. The primary objective is to identify the most frequently borrowed words and describe the phonological and morphological processes that characterize their adaptation into the recipient language. Data were collected through photographic documentation of public signage and analyzed qualitatively. The findings indicate that direct lexical importation is the predominant strategy, characterized by significant phonological modification to agree with Tigrinya phonotactic. Key adaptive processes include systemic vowel substitution, monophthongization, schwa replacement, add glottal stop to reduce vowel initials, and epenthetic vowel insertion to resolve illicit consonant clusters. Morphologically, free lexeme and hybrid compounding are the principal method of blending foreign and native elements. This direct import of lexemes presents potential challenges for lexical accessibility and comprehension. The study concludes that while active phonological nativization occurs, the prevalence of direct imports highlights a pressing need for standardized language planning and policy to ensure communicative clarity and preserve the functional integrity of Tigrinya in public domains.