A Corpus – Based Analysis of Morphological Drift: The Role of Analogy and Regulation in the inflectional Behavior of Recent English Loanword in COHA

Authors

  • Lect. Ulla Kamal Yaseen English Language Department, Misan University. Iraq Author
  • Asst.Prof Inas Kamal Yaseen Mustansiriyah University image/svg+xml , English Language Department, Mustansiriyah University. Iraq Author
  • Asst. Lect. Muna Jabar Shalash English Language Department, Misan University. Iraq Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol22.Iss2.1783

Keywords:

morphological drift; loanword; corps linguistics; analogy; regularization; COHS; language change

Abstract

This study scrutinized Morphological drift from the newly borrowed   loanword in English language .By the complete analyzation for the Corpus of historical American English (COHA). we investigate how the loanword or the borrowed lexical items (loanword) undergo inflectional adjustment with focusing on the interplay between analogical leveling and morphological regularization, utilizing data spanning from 1900-2019 .This research trace the development of the inflectional pattern or the paradigmatic behavior of 150 borrowed lexical items  (loanword ) from different parent(etymological ) languages .

The evidence suggested that regularization process prevalent in high frequency context or one could say more dominant, while morphological variability exhibit a low frequency borrowing. This research offering a valuable insight to our understanding for the cognitive mechanism, language contact, and morphological productivity driving language change.

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Author Biographies

  • Lect. Ulla Kamal Yaseen, English Language Department, Misan University. Iraq

    Instructor with 15 years experience in English linguistics and literature, at college of Basic Education, Misan University. Some published works in the same field 

  • Asst.Prof Inas Kamal Yaseen, Mustansiriyah University, English Language Department, Mustansiriyah University. Iraq

    Associate professor at Mustansiriyah University, and a Ph.D candidate in English language teaching methods. A TESOL researcher with a real concern in higher education studies, curriculum developments, theories, trendy teaching techniques researches and studies.

  • Asst. Lect. Muna Jabar Shalash, English Language Department, Misan University. Iraq

    A TESOL researcher and Master degree . Asst. Instructor at College of Basic Education / University of Misan

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Published

2026-05-01

Issue

Section

European languages and literature

How to Cite

Yaseen, U. K., Yaseen, I. K., & Jabar, M. (2026). A Corpus – Based Analysis of Morphological Drift: The Role of Analogy and Regulation in the inflectional Behavior of Recent English Loanword in COHA. Wasit Journal for Human Sciences, 22(2), 1549-1535. https://doi.org/10.31185/wjfh.Vol22.Iss2.1783

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