MODERN TRENDS OF BORROWINGS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Abstract

This study explores the trends of enrichment of the English language with borrowed words. It outlines the main patterns of distribution of loanwords according to their regions of origin and identifies the factors that contribute to their integration into English. The actual data consisted of the lexical units included in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2024. The three key areas of analysis have been identified: the origin of borrowings, their thematic background, and the degree of their assimilation into the English language. The analysis revealed that the primary sources of loanwords were the languages of the so-called expanding circle - the countries where English functions as the main means of international communication. Asian languages (Japanese, Korean, and Chinese) were particularly significant in this context. Borrowings from the inner circle - the countries where English is the native language of the majority of the population - were also numerous. The borrowed words are related to political, everyday, and cultural spheres of life. Lexical items originating from the former British colonies are associated mainly with specific social and cultural phenomena. A comparative analysis of the level of assimilation of the borrowed lexemes has been carried out. It was found that borrowings from the inner circle are fully assimilated, whereas those from the outer and expanding circles show partial assimilation or are barbarisms.