An Etymological Analysis of English Words

Abstract

This paper attempts to describe loan words in English and etymology of English words. 'Etymology' as defined by Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (2010) is the study of the origin of words, historical perspectives, and modification in the meanings of these words. The etymological analysis of the words helps one recognize that words originate through a limited number of fundamental parameters such as borrowing the words from other languages; formation of words such as derivation and compounding; and onomatopoeia and sound symbolism. Of course, the English vocabulary consists of two types: the native and borrowed words. Interestingly, the number of borrowed words from different languages and sources is greater than the collection of native words.