A Sociolinguistics study of Urdu-Hindi Lexical Borrowings in English from Perspectives of Language Contact

The current study focuses on exploring the phenomenon of Urdu-Hindi lexical borrowings in Standard English through the lens of language contact theory. Lexical borrowing, as defined by Myers-Scotton (p. 209), refers to the integration of words from one language to another oner, typically resulting from social or communicative interaction between speakers of different linguistic backgrounds. When speakers of two languages come into contact, they often adopt terms, especially those representing new objects, activities, or concepts, not previously present in their own language. These borrowed terms enrich the vocabulary of the receiving language and signify linguistic and cultural exchange. This study specifically investigates the nature and extent of such borrowings from Urdu-Hindi into English, identifying the types of words borrowed and their significance within the English lexicon. The data for this study was extracted from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, which provided a comprehensive collection of potential borrowings. Each word was then cross-verified for its etymological origin using the Online Etymology Dictionary, Urdu Encyclopedia, and Merriam-Webster Dictionary. This triangulated approach ensured accuracy in identifying true Urdu-Hindi origins. The analysis revealed that the majority of borrowed terms were content words, including sixty-three nouns, eight adjectives, one verb, and two interjections. A notable observation was that core lexical items, those used in everyday communication, outnumbered cultural borrowings. These results highlight that language contact leads to the natural assimilation of useful and frequently used words, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of language. Overall, the study supports the idea that lexical borrowing is a fundamental outcome of linguistic interaction and cultural exchange.