NOTE: Using ChatGPT or other generative AI service to create an essay is prohibited for this assignment!
For the assignment, you will write a short essay (2-3 pages, single-spaced) on the history of a loan word. The word can be either a) or b):
a) a word in English that was borrowed from an Asian language, or
b) a word in an Asian language that came from another language (e.g., a European language or another Asian language).
Look up the word in multiple dictionaries. (Make sure to cite the sources!) Trace its root and describe how its form (pronunciation & spelling) changed in the process of borrowing (e.g., how the form in the source language differs from its English spelling). Discuss how the meaning of the word has changed over time, and whether this borrowing has had influence on English and the language that is involved, culturally and linguistically. Make sure to do the readings before you write the essay because the readings will provide a rich background and examples for describing and doing research on loan words. You are also encouraged to use Ngram. Remember to cite any resources that you used to learn about the word’s history.
Here are some resources and steps you can take for your essay.
1) To find a loan word to work on, you can read 3.1 of the textbook. The following Wikipedia pages can also be helpful:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoanwordLinks to an external site.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_English_words_by_country_or_language_of_originLinks to an external site.
Here are lists of words that English borrowed from some Asian languages:
a) From Chinese: chop suey, chow mein, dim sum, ketchup, tea, ginseng, kowtow, litchee (Do not choose ketchup.)
b) From Japanese: geisha, hara kiri, judo, jujitsu, kamikaze, karaoke, kimono, samurai, soy, sumo, sushi, tsunami
c) From Pacific Islands: bamboo, gingham, rattan, taboo, tattoo, ukulele, boondocks
2) To learn about the history of the word, you can use any search engine (google) and find more resources. You can also use Google Ngram to learn about the popularity of the word or its competitors. You will definitely benefit from checking how the word is defined, its morphological decomposition and etymologies in a dictionary. For an English word, I find The American Heritage DictionaryLinks to an external site. to be particularly useful in describing the etymological origins.
What to include in your essay:
The definition of the word
Its morphological decomposition
Which language it came from, its original form in that language, its meaning, sound, and orthographic information
If you can, trace its change over time, how its current use is different from that in the source language
Search for examples of how it is used today and provide some examples if possible.
Discuss the cultural context and significance of this loan word.
