One example of a word borrowed from Japanese into English is “karaoke.” In Japanese, it is pronounced /ka.ra.o.ke/ with five syllables and a stress pattern on the first syllable. In English, it is pronounced /ˌkær.iˈoʊ.ki/, with four syllables and a different stress pattern. The adaptation involves simplifying the vowel sounds and adjusting the stress placement to fit English phonology. Additionally, English tends to have fewer syllables in borrowed words, leading to the reduction of syllables from five to four in this case. The pronunciation in the borrowing language reflects the linguistic constraints and patterns of English, making it easier for English speakers to pronounce while retaining the essence of the original word.
Author: Medijana Tagani
Blog 1
I vividly remember a moment when I confidently used the word “gonna” in my class presentation in fourth grade. I was sharing an exciting story and I casually said “We were gonna go to the park.” Suddenly, my teacher interrupted with a stern expression and said, “Gonna is not a proper word, use ‘going to’ instead.” I felt a bit embarrassed, but I quickly switched to the more “correct” form. We were taught various prescriptive rules, including the preference for “aren’t” over “ain’t” and the avoidance of double negatives. The reasons given often revolved around the idea of adhering to standard English grammar for clearer communication and formality. Despite these teachings, as I grew older, I realized that language is flexible and evolves. While I may use standard English in formal settings, I also appreciate the richness of language diversity and the fluidity of expression.
