Morphophonemic Analysis of Dholuo Loanwords in Ekegusii

Abstract

This study examines the morphophonemic adaptation processes that Dholuo borrowed words in Ekegusii undergo in order to adjust into Ekegusii language class system within the principles of Generative morphology and Borrowing and transfer theory. While extensive research exists on loanword adaptation into Ekegusii from foreign languages like English, there remains a notable research gap concerning loanwords from neighboring indigenous African languages, such as Maasai, Kipsigis, and Dholuo. This thesis specifically addresses this gap by providing the first comprehensive morphophonemic analysis of Dholuo loanwords in Ekegusii, highlighting the unique linguistic interactions between a Western Nilotic and a Bantu language. The study hypothesizes that Dholuo loanwords undergo specific morphophonemic modifications to integrate into Ekegusii. The study was steered by three aims: (1) to outline the phonological and morphological similarities and differences between Dholuo and Ekegusii; (2) to analyze the phonological adaptation processes of Dholuo lexical items borrowed into Ekegusii; and (3) to examine the morphological adaptation processes of these loanwords. Employing a descriptive and explanatory research design, the study targeted Ekegusii speakers and Dholuo loanwords in Ekegusii. Data was gathered from 20 specific individuals chosen through purposive and snowball sampling. The information was collected using both semi-structured interviews and structured word lists. This approach allowed for the systematic collection of loanword usage and adaptation patterns in naturalistic contexts. Content analysis was applied to the collected data. Findings reveal significant differences, yet also some similarities, between Ekegusii and Dholuo phonology and morphology. The study demonstrates that Dholuo loanwords are phonologically adapted in Ekegusii through processes such as stop weakening, devoicing of Dholuo consonants, vowel epenthesis, and vowel substitution. Morphologically, loanwords are adapted through prefixation (including pre-prefixation) and suffixation, integrating them into Ekegusii’s noun class system. This study will make a substantial contribution to the current literature on language contact within African linguistics, particularly by offering novel insights into morphophonemic adaptation within Bantu-Nilotic language interactions.