The document discusses the phonological adaptation of English loanwords in Igbo. It analyzes various phonological processes that English words undergo when borrowed into Igbo, including vowel and consonant changes, insertions and deletions. Some key findings are that English vowels may be substituted with different Igbo vowels, long vowels may change to short vowels, diphthongs become monophthongs, and consonants can be modified. Additionally, vowels are often inserted between consonant clusters or at the end of words to comply with Igbo phonotactics. The stress patterns of English words also change to tone patterns in Igbo. The study reveals how contact between English and Igbo has influenced the flexibility and development of words in

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PHONOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF ENGLISH
LOANWORDS IN IGBO
Ejiofor, Eugene Uchechukwu
Department of Linguistics & Nigerian Languages
Faculty of Humanities
Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil
Email: nkegenee@yahoo.com

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Abstract
Language contact is as old as man. As people move around to overcome their economic,
political and social challenges, they move along with different languages. These languages
meet and borrow from one another. The Igbo and the English languages are some of the
instances of languages contact. This study investigated phonological processes the English
loanwords in Igbo undergo. Some English loanwords were collated and analyzed using the
questionnaire method. It is discovered that the loanwords are not just borrowed into the Igbo
language; they do undergo different phonological processes like vowel and consonant
modification, vowel insertion and deletion. It is also discovered that the pitch is not left out in
the involved phonological processes. Words in English are changed from stressed words to
tone words in Igbo. The study reveals the effects of the contact of English and Igbo. It also
reveals the flexibility in the development of Igbo words.
KEY WORDS: Igbo loan words, borrowing in Igbo, adaption of English words in Igbo,
English and Igbo contact
1.0 Introduction
The Igbo is the native language of the Igbo people, an ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. It
is estimated that there are over 24 million native speakers of Igbo (Wikipedia). A standard
literary language was developed in 1972 based on the Isuama and Umuahia dialects
(Ọkaasụsụ Igbo). The first book to publish Igbo words was History of the Mission of the
Evangelical Brothers in the Caribbean (German: Geschichte der Mission der Evangelischen
Brüder auf den Carabischen Inseln), published in 1777. Shortly afterwards in 1789, The
Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano was published in London, England,
written by Olaudah Equiano, a former slave, featuring 79 Igbo words (Oraka 1983 p21). The
narrative also illustrates various aspects of Igbo life based on Olaudah Equiano's experiences
in his hometown of Essaka.
The central dialect of Igbo is traceable to the 1939 standardization committee led by Dr. Ida
C. Ward. The recommendations of the Ward committee were gradually accepted by
missionaries, writers, and publishers across the Igbo region. In 1972, the Society for
Promoting Igbo Language and Culture (SPILC), a nationalist organization which saw Central
Igbo as an imperialist exercise, set up a Standardization Committee to extend Central Igbo to
be a more inclusive language. Standard Igbo aims at cross-pollinating Central Igbo with
words from Igbo dialects outside the "Central" areas, and with the adoption of loanwords.
Linguistic borrowing involves reproducing linguistic items found in one language into
another language. It is believed that no community, no matter its size, will live without
having contact with other communities. This contact brings about influence in various forms

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of life among which is borrowing linguistic items from one another. The items borrowed
from the source language might be adopted to suit the phonological and morphological
systems of the target language. However, it is likely that the borrowed items can or cannot
retain the meaning of the source language.
The coming of Britain to some parts of West Africa which resulted in the amalgamation of
what is today known as Nigeria; and the consequent colonization of Nigeria by the British
government introduced English language into Nigeria. English consequently became the
language of the colonial administration and education. The use of English as the language of
education and as the official language in Nigeria gave the language lots of prestige to the
extent that Nigerians, especially, the Igbo are very eager to be identified with the language.
Nwala (1985: 23) demonstrates a strong affinity between the Igbo and the English languages.
According to the publication, though the Igbo strongly rejected the colonial masters, they
were overwhelmed by the colonial language, English. The love for English by the Igbo made
it a common phenomenon for every average Igbo person to code-switch between Igbo and
English frequently. Consequent to this is the regular borrowing of English words into Igbo.
2.0 Processes Involved in the Phonological Adaptation
There are many processes that are involved in the linguistic borrowing of English words into
Igbo. Some of these processes include vowel change, modification of long vowels to short
vowels, changing of diphthongs to monothongs and consonant change. Others include
insertion of vowels and insertion of consonants; deletion of vowels and consonants and
change of pitch from stress to tone. Let us now x-ray the above processes:
2.1 Vowel Change
This is a phonological process whereby the original vowel of a language is forced to change
when adapted into another. In other words, it is a phonological transformation of the vowels
of loanwords into another vowel in a language. This process is attested in English loans in
Igbo language. Instances of this are demonstrated below.

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2.1.1 Substituting Short Vowels
English loanwords in Igbo involve the substitution of short vowels as in:
English Igbo
1. government /i
gʌvǝnmǝnt/ gọmenti /g m nt /: where /ʌ/ in English is substituted
with / / in Igbo.
2. okra /i
Dkrǝ/ ọkụrọ / k r /: /ǝ/ is substituted with / /
3. television /i
televiʒǝn/ televishọn /t v ʃ n/: /ǝ/ is substituted with / /
4. computer /kǝmmi
pju:t ǝr
/ kọmpụta /k mp t /: /ǝ/ is substituted with / /
5. cup /kʌp/ kọpụ /k p /: / ʌ/ is substituted with / /
6. kitchen /i
kIʧIn/ kechini /k ʧ n /: /I/ is substituted with /e/
7. soldier / i
sǝʊlʤǝ/ soja /s ʤ /: /ǝ/ is substituted with /a/
8. machine /mǝi
ʃi:n/ mashịnị /m ʃ n /: /ǝ/ is substituted with /a/
9. latrine / ǝi
tri:n/ latirini / t r n /: /ǝ/ is substituted with /a/
10. sugar / i
ʃʊgǝr
/ shuga /ʃʊg /: /ǝ/ is substituted with /a/
11. mango /i
mængǝʊ/ mangolo /m nụg /: /ǝ/ is substituted with /o/
12. battery /i
bætǝri/ batịrị /b t r /: /ǝ/ is substituted with / I/
13. cushion /i
kʊʃǝn/ kwushini /kwʊʃ n /: /ǝ/ is substituted with / I/
2.1.2 Changing Long Vowels to Short Vowels
We also have the substitution of long vowels with short vowels as in:
English Igbo
14. latrine / ǝi
tri:n/ latirini / t r n /: The vowel/i:/ in English is substituted
with /I/ in Igbo.
15. guava / i
gwa:vǝ/ gova /gw v /: /a:/ is substituted with /o/
16. record / i
rek :d/ rekọdụ /r k d /: / :/ is substituted with / /

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17. dormitory / i
d :mǝtri/ dọmetịrị /d m t r /: / :/ is substituted with / /
18. ball /b :l/ bọlụ /b l /: / :/ is substituted with / /
19. torch /t :ʧ/ tọchị /t ʧI/: / :/ is substituted with / /
20. church /ʧɜ:ʧ/ chọchị /ʧ ʧ /: /ɜ:/ is substituted with / /
21. school /sku:l/ skulu /skʊlʊ/: /u:/ is substituted with /ʊ/
22. computer /kǝmmi
pju:t ǝr
/ kọmpụta /k mp t /: /u:/ is substituted with /ʊ/
23. blue /blu:/ bulu /bʊlʊ/: /u:/ is substituted with /ʊ/
24. cashew /i
kæʃu:/ kashụ /k ʃ /: /u:/ is substituted with /ʊ/
2.1.3 Changing Diphthongs to Monothongs
Adapting English words into Igbo also involves changing of original diphthongs in English to
monothongs in Igbo. This must have been triggered by the fact that diphthongs are not found
in Igbo. This is exemplified with the following data:
English Igbo
25. table / i
teIbl/ tebulu /tebʊlʊ/: the diphthong /eI/ in English is
changed to the monothong /e/ in Igbo.
26. phone /fǝʊn/ fonu /f nʊ/: /ǝʊ/ is changed to /o/
27. soldier / i
sǝʊlʤǝ/ soja /s ʤ /: /ǝʊ/ is changed to /o/
28.pineapple / i
paInæpl/ panapụlụ /p n p l /: /aI/ is changed to a/
2.2 Consonant Change
Consonant change involves the changing of consonants from the original word in English
with another consonant in the borrowing language. This applicable in English and Igbo
contact. Though not limited to, the change is usually triggered by the absence of the original
consonant in Igbo. It can also be triggered some times by the limited use of consonant cluster
in Igbo. This is exemplified with the following English loanwords:

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English Igbo
29. television /i
televiʒǝn/ televishọn /t v ʃ n/: Where /ʒ/ in English is
changed to /ʃ/ in Igbo.
30. bank /bæŋk/ bankị /b k /: /ŋ/ is changed to /n/
31. cushion / i
kʊʃǝn/ kwushịnị /kwʊʃ n /: /k/ is changed to /kw/
2.2.1 Insertion
This is a phonological process whereby segment that is not originally found in a word is
added to the segments that form the word. In Igbo, vowels are inserted to separate a
consonant cluster or at the end of an English loanword that ends with a consonant. As stated
earlier, use of consonant cluster is rare in Igbo, and Igbo words do not end with consonants.
There are also some rare cases whereby a syllable is inserted at the end of English word that
ends with a vowel. Instances of insertion can be demonstrated with the data below.
2.2.1.1 Insertion between Consonants
This is necessitated by the need to break consonant clusters in the loan words. It can be
exemplified with the following loanwords:
English Igbo
32. football /i
fʊtb :l/ fụtụbọlụ /f t b l /: where the vowel / / is inserted
to break the consonant cluster /tb/.
33. table /teIbl/ tebulu /tebʊlʊ/: the vowel /ʊ/ is inserted to break the
consonant cluster /bl/.
34. bible / i
baIbl/ baịbụlụ /b b l /: the vowel / / is inserted to break the
consonant cluster /bl/.
35. latrine / ǝi
tri:n/ latịrịnị / t r n /: the vowel /I/ is inserted to break the
consonant cluster /tr/.
,

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English Igbo
36. kettle / i
ketl/ ketụlụ /k t l /: the vowel / / is inserted to break the
consonant cluster /tl/.
37. blue /blu:/ bulu /bʊlʊ/: the vowel /ʊ/ is inserted to break the
consonant cluster /bl/.
38. okra / i
Dkrǝ/ ọkụrọ / k r /: the vowel / / is inserted to break the
consonant cluster /kr/.
39. candle / i
kændl/ kandụlụ /k nd l /: the vowel / / is inserted to break the
consonant cluster /dl/.
2.2.1.2 Insertion of Vowels at Word Final Position
This is the most common phonological process that happens to English loanwords in Igbo.
This is triggered by the non-tolerance of consonants at the word final position in Igbo.
Insertion of vowels at the word-final positions on loanwords that end with consonants can be
seen in almost all the earlier listed examples as in:
English Igbo
40. church /ʧɜ:ʧ/ chọchị : /ʧ ʧ / /- I/ is inserted at the end of the word.
41. ball /b :l/ bọlụ /b l /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
42. clock /klDk/ kụlọkụ /kl l k /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
43. shop /ʃDp/ shọpụ /ʃ p /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
44. football /i
fʊtb :l/ fụtụbọlụ /f t b l /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
45. bottle / i
bDtl/ bọtụlụ /b t l /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
46. watch /wDʧ/ wọchị /w ʧ /: /- I/ is inserted at the end of the word.
47. torch /t :ʧ/ tọchị /t ʧ /: /- I/ is inserted at the end of the word.
48. telephone /fǝʊn/ telefonu /t f nʊ/: /- ʊ/ is inserted at the end of the word.

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English Igbo
49. bible / i
baIbl/ baibụlụ /b b l /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
50. pot /pDt/ /p t /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
51. bank /bæŋk/ /b k /: /- I/ is inserted at the end of the word.
52. kettle / i
ketl/ /k t l /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
53. lamp /læmp/ / mp /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
54. cotton / i
kDtǝn/ /k t n /: /- I/ is inserted at the end of the word.
55. college /i
kDlIʤ/ /k ʤ /: /- I/ is inserted at the end of the word.
56. pineapple / i
paInæpl/ /p n p l /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
57. candle / i
kændl/ /k nd l /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
58. fan /fæn/ /f n /: /- / is inserted at the end of the word.
59. mangoe /i
mængǝʊ/ / m nụg /: /- lo/ is inserted at the end of the word.
2.2.2 Deletion
This is another rare instance whereby a phoneme is deleted from English word adopted into
Igbo. Some examples of this can be found in the following:
English Igbo
60. electric /ii
lektrik/ / tr k/: the 1st
vowel /i - / is deleted
61. electric /ii
lektrik/ / tr k/:the cons. /t/ is deleted between /k/ and /r/.
62. guava / i
gwa:vǝ/ /gw v /: the cons./w/ is deleted between/g/ and /a:/
2.2.3 Changing from Stress to Tone
This is a phonological process that affects every English loanword in Igbo. It involves the
changing of the pitch pattern from stress that is associated with intonation languages to tone.
This is triggered by the fact that Igbo is a tone language. Hence any lexicon in the language

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must be tonal. This can be exemplified with the following few examples, in addition to all the
English loanwords listed earlier.
English Igbo
63. school /sku:l/ /skʊlʊ/ a stress less monosyllabic word in English is
produced with tone in Igbo.
64. machine /mǝ i
ʃi:n/ /màʃ nì/ 'stress' is changed to 'tone'.
65. battery /i
bætǝri/ /bàtìrì/ 'stress' is changed to 'tone'.
66. record / i
rek :d/ /r k d / 'stress' is changed to 'tone'.
67. dormitory / i
d :mǝtri/ /d m tìrì/ 'stress' is changed to 'tone'.
68. cupboard /i
kʌbǝd/ /k b d / 'stress' is changed to 'tone'.
69. bottle / i
bDtl/ /b t l / 'stress' is changed to 'tone'.
3.0. Observations
It is discovered that the major phonological processes involved in the borrowing of English
words into Igbo include vowel and consonant change, vowel insertion, vowel and consonant
deletion; and change of pitch pattern from stress to tone. The major activator for the above
phonological processes is mainly based on the situation that the changed or modified
phoneme is not found in Igbo language or where the English phonological rule that produced
the concerned loanword violates the Igbo phonological rules. This view is mainly manifested
at the instances where /ǝ/ that is not found in gbo phonemes inventory is replaced with
another vowel like /I/ or /a/. The claim is also buttressed by situations where vowels are being
inserted in between consonant clusters in line with the phonological rules of Igbo that rarely
accommodate consonant clusters, and the instances whereby the vowels /I/ and /u/ are
inserted at the end of loanwords ending in consonants which are also rarely accommodated in
Igbo.
The study also reveals that the first consonants and vowels of English loanwords are usually
retained in Igbo. It is also in line with the above claim that makes it possible for English
loanwords to retain their word (or syllable) initial consonants and vowels which are allowed
by the Igbo phonological rules. It is clearly manifested that only the front high vowel /I/ or /i/

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(depending on the vowel harmony condition) and the back high vowel /ʊ/ or / / (depending
on the vowel harmony condition) are usually inserted at the end of English loanwords.
<
4.0. Conclusion
The study investigated the different phonological processes that English loanwords in Igbo
undergo. The study is upholding the view that the phonological processes involved in the
borrowing of English words into Igbo lexical are systematic. It also upholds the fact that Igbo
is developing by increasing its lexicon with borrowed words.

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