Anglicizations

Anglicization is the process by which non-English words, names, places, or cultural forms are adapted to English usage, or, more broadly, the influence of English on other languages. In linguistics, anglicization can refer to changes in pronunciation, spelling, or morphology that bring a form into line with English phonology and orthography, or to the replacement of foreign forms with English equivalents. It also describes the broader cultural and political phenomenon whereby English language norms are adopted within a society or by individuals who speak other languages.

Common instances include altering personal names to English forms (for example Johannes becoming John, or Carlos becoming Charles) or translating place names or historical toponyms (Beijing formerly Peking; München as Munich). In transliteration, non-Latin scripts are rendered in a way that conforms to English sound values, sometimes at the cost of phonetic accuracy for the original language. In orthography, diacritics are dropped and syllable structures simplified (naïve to naive; café to cafe; rôle to role). In vocabulary, words borrowed from other languages are nativized through anglicized spellings and pronunciations.

Anglicization can occur gradually through everyday use, or be promoted by institutions for political, educational, or commercial reasons. It is a common feature of language contact in former colonies, among diasporas, and in multilingual societies, and it remains a live topic in debates about linguistic identity and cultural influence.