THE HISTORY, CAUSES, AND MECHANISMS OF ENGLISH BORROWING IN KOREAN AND KARAKALPAK

Abstract

This article investigates English lexical borrowing in Korean and Karakalpak, examining its historical development, sociolinguistic motivations, and linguistic adaptation mechanisms. Grounded in language contact theory and borrowing typology, the study compares how English loanwords have entered and integrated into two typologically distinct languages under different sociopolitical conditions. In Korean, English borrowing has largely occurred through direct contact, particularly following U.S. influence after 1945, and has intensified in the era of globalization, digital media, and popular culture, giving rise to hybrid formations known as Konglish. In contrast, English-derived vocabulary in Karakalpak historically entered predominantly through Russian mediation during the Soviet period, while the post-independence era has seen increasing direct borrowing associated with market economy reforms and technological advancement.