Borrowed Words

A History of Loanwords in English

Philip Durkin (Oxford University Press)

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English

Oxford University Press
09 February 2014

Language: reference & general; Language: history & general works; linguistics; Historical & comparative linguistics; Lexicography

The rich variety of the English vocabulary reflects the vast number of words it has taken from other languages. These range from Latin, Greek, Scandinavian, Celtic, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian to, among others, Hebrew, Maori, Malay, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, andYiddish. Philip Durkin's full and accessible history reveals how, when, and why. He shows how to discover the origins of loanwords, when and why they were adopted, and what happens to them once they have been. The long documented history of English includes contact with languages in a variety of contexts, including: the dissemination of Christian culture in Latin in Anglo-Saxon England, and the interactions of French, Latin, Scandinavian, Celtic, and English during the Middle Ages; exposure to languages throughout the world during the colonial era; and the effects of using English as an international language of science. Philip Durkin describes these and other historical inputs, introducing the approaches each requires, from the comparative method for the earliest period to documentary and corpus research in the modern. The discussion is illustrated at every point with examples taken from a variety of different sources. The framework Dr Durkin develops can be used to explore lexical borrowing in any language. This outstanding book is for everyone interested in English etymology and in loanwords more generally. It will appeal to a wide general public and at the same time offers a valuable reference for scholars and students of the history of English.

By: Philip Durkin (Oxford University Press)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 250mm, Width: 181mm, Spine: 35mm
Weight: 1.048kg
ISBN: 9780199574995
ISBN 10: 0199574995
Pages: 512
Publication Date: 09 February 2014
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Part I: Introduction 1: Introducing Concepts 2: Introducing the Data Part II: Early COntacts in Continental Europe and Britain 3: Historical and Cultural Background to c. 1150 4: Very Early Borrowings into Germanic 5: Old English in Contact with Celtic Part III: Old English and Proto-Old English in Contact with latin Introduction to Part III 6: An Overview of Latin Loanwords in Old English 7: Interrogating the Data from Chapter 6 8: Methodologies: sound change; word geography; loanwords versus semantic borrowing Conclusions to Part III Part IV: Scandinavian Influence Introduction to Part IV 9: Introduction to Scandinavian Loanwords in English 10: Identifying Scandinavian Borrowings, and Assessing their Impact Conclusions to Part IV Part V: Borrowing from French and Latin in Middle English Introduction to Part V 11: Exploring the Contact Situation and Identifying Loans 12: Quantifying French and Latin Contributions to Middle English 13: Example Passages from English and Multilingual Texts Conclusions to Part V Part VI: Loanwords into English after 1500; how Borrowing has Affected the Lexicon Introduction to Part VI 14: Borrowing from Latin and French after 1500 15: Loanwords from Other Languages: test cases 16: Long-term Effects of Loanwords on the Shape of the English Lexicon 17: General Conclusions and Pointers for Further Investigation References Index

Philip Durkin, Oxford University Press Philip Durkin is Principal Etymologist of the Oxford English Dictionary. His Oxford Guide to Etymology (2009; paperback edition 2011) has become the standard work in the field.

Reviews for Borrowed Words: A History of Loanwords in English

Philip Durkin has shown himself in this highly readable book to be a 'superstar' in the etymological history of words borrowed into English. Eric Stanley, Notes and Queries Written clearly and authoritatively, the History of Loanwords in English is a solid, scholarly piece of work ... While being intellectually rigorous, the monograph is also highly readable, and Durkinas skill of explaining very complex issues in an uncomplicated way, as well as his precise terminological apparatus are particularly worth emphasizing. One may wonder whether the book has any weaknesses at all. Miroslawa Podhajecka, International Journal of Lexicography Philip Durkin introduces and investigates how successive phases of language contact have made their mark on the vocabulary of English. Underlying the whole enterprise is an impressive, sagacious control of basic (and more advanced) principles, which are gradually laid out before the reader and illustrated with much thought. This is an important and engaging book. Richard Dance, University of Cambridge an indispensable addition to the library shelves. Sarah Powell, Reference Reviews