Semantic change in loan words

Abstract

In this article the phenomenon of semantic change as it manifests itself in a variety of loan-words or adoptives from different Bantu languages is investigated. After a discussion of the notion ‘semantic change’ several factors which play a role in such changes are considered, e.g. ellipsis, analogy, metonymy, metaphor, folk etymology, etc. It is shown that meaning change may result in the generalization, specialization or radical change in a word's meaning, as well as in changes in the emotive content of words. As far as the latter is concerned, the important role played by taboo and euphemism is focussed upon.