| dc.description.abstract | The study of borrowed toponyms is significant because its analysis provides insight to
the morphological processes, the structure, and lexical changes within a language and
the resultant meanings on borrowings among languages in contact. In this regard, the
purpose of the present study was to comparatively analyse the borrowed forms of
toponyms from English, Swahili, Nandi and Maasai languages into Lukabaras because
the linguistic outcomes of contact between Lukabaras and these languages focusing on
toponyms have not received sufficient scholarly attention. The study sought to;
describe the borrowed forms of toponyms in Lukabaras, describe the morphological
structure and processes involved in the formation of the toponyms in Lukabaras and
analyse the morpho- semantic variations evident in the borrowed forms of the
toponyms in Lukabaras. The study used a descriptive research design. The analysis
was done within the framework of the Generative Morphological Theory and the
Casual Name Theory. The respondents included 42 purposively sampled speakers of
Lukabaras from the seven wards of Kakamega North Sub County. A sample of 30
toponyms which formed the linguistic data for the study was collected through Focus
Group Discussions. The sample size for analysis constituted the recorded borrowed
forms of toponyms. The collected data was then analysed qualitatively using content
analysis. The findings showed that many of the borrowed forms of toponyms in
Lukabaras originated from Nandi. All the toponyms were integrated in Lukabaras
through affixation, compounding and clipping. It was established that the toponyms
carried both denotative and connotative meaning and they varied as applied in
Lukabaras compared to the meanings of the source words in the donor languages. The
study concluded that although there are morpho semiotic variations in the borrowed
forms of the toponyms, the historical importance attached to them is esteemed for
cultural heritage. The findings of the study necessitate the formation of policy to guide
creation of place names especially where conflicts arise among local communities. The
knowledge of toponyms in Lukabaras further adds to the existing studies done in
Lukabaras. | en_US |
