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Article published In: Asia-Pacific Language Variation
Vol. 5:2 (2019) ► pp.109–137

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Detecting language change

Māori loanwords in a diachronic topic-constrained corpus of New Zealand English newspapers

 | University of Waikato
 | University of Waikato
 | University of Waikato
 | University of Waikato
Published online: 2 March 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/aplv.00003.cal
Abstract
The borrowing of words from one language into another is most likely as ancient as language itself. While ample linguistic attention has focused on various linguistic contact scenarios in which words from one language enter productive use into another, their aim has been largely restricted to documenting the words which are borrowed, their frequency, and other situation-specific information. In this paper, we propose new methods for studying loanwords, namely a combination of statistical testing techniques which can be used together to increase knowledge in this area. We illustrate these tools with a case-study of loanwords from an indigenous language (Māori) into a world dominant language (New Zealand English). Using a topic-constrained newspaper corpus in conjunction with quantitative methods, we explore the use of loanwords diachronically and analyse variation in loanword use across newspapers and across writers.
Abstract (Mahara)
Ko te tiki kupu i tētehi reo me te whakamahi ki reo kē he tawhito rawa pērā hoki i tēnei mea te reo. Ahakoa te aronga wetereo ki ngā tūpononga rerekē i uru ai ngā kupu o tētehi reo ki tētahi anō, i āhua whāiti tā rātou whāinga kia hopu noa i ngā kupu rā i tīkina, te whakamahia (o aua kupu), me ētahi anō mōhiohio a-horopaki nei. Kei tēnei pepa, e tūtohu ana mātou i ētahi huarahi anō hei arotake kupu-whakawhiti (loanword), arā ngā pūkenga whakamātautau tatauranga e taea ana te whakamahi kia tupu ai te mātauranga ki tēnei rangahau. Ka whakaatuhia e mātou ēnei taputapu ki tētahi kēhi-rangahau kupu-whakawhiti reo Taketake (Māori) ki tētehi tino reo o te ao (New Zealand English). He kohinga nūpepa kaupapa-whāiti i rangahaua me te whai hoki i ngā tikanga ine tātai, ka tirohia e mātou te whakamahia o ngā kupu-whakawhiti me te whanaketanga mai, waihoki ka arohaehaetia te rerekē o te whakamahia ki ngā nūpepa me ngā kaituhi.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Context of the study
  • 2.Language contact situation in New Zealand
  • 3.Methods, data, and some preliminary findings
  • 4.Results from statistical modelling
    • 4.1Patterns of use of loanwords across newspaper articles by different authors
      • 4.1.1Factors influencing the rate of loanword usage within articles
      • 4.1.2Factors influencing the incidence of loanwords in article titles
    • 4.2Patterns of use of loanwords across time
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Concluding remarks
  • Notes
  • References
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