Part of
Ugandan English: Its sociolinguistics, structure and uses in a globalising post-protectorateEdited by Christiane Meierkord, Bebwa Isingoma and Saudah Namyalo
[Varieties of English Around the World G59] 2016
► pp. 149–172
Edited by Christiane Meierkord, Bebwa Isingoma and Saudah Namyalo
[Varieties of English Around the World G59] 2016
► pp. 149–172
Lexical borrowings and calques in Ugandan English
The chapter highlights cases of lexical borrowings and calques observable in
Ugandan English. Both basic lexical items and nonbasic items have been borrowed
and calqued from indigenous Ugandan (especially Bantu) languages, in
order to not only provide basic lexical items, but also to provide extra communicative
effects. Given that Ugandan English draws most of its borrowings
and calques from indigenous Ugandan languages, as opposed to other East
African varieties of English (i.e. Kenyan English and Tanzanian English), which
are influenced mainly by Kiswahili (cf. Schmied 2004), this study augments the
discourse on the argument that Ugandan English is a variety of English distinct
from Kenyan or Tanzanian English.
Keywords: borrowings, calques, indigenous Ugandan
languages, lexical gaps, Ugandan English
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