Anglicized

Anglicized refers to the process or result of making something English in form or character. In linguistics and onomastics, it describes the adaptation of non-English names, words, pronunciations, or scripts to English norms of spelling, pronunciation, or usage. The process can apply to proper names (toponyms and personal names), loanwords, and transliterations when they are rendered in English.

Etymology: The term derives from Anglicize, from Medieval Latin Anglicizare, from Anglicus “English,” ultimately related to the name Anglia for England. The suffix -ize forms verbs, and Anglicized is the corresponding past participle or adjective.

Usage examples: Place names often become Anglicized, such as Bombay for Mumbai or Calcutta for Kolkata, though modern usage increasingly favors local forms. Historical forms such as Beiping/Peiping or Peking illustrate Anglicization choices; contemporary standards typically prefer Beijing. English spellings of foreign terms, like centre versus center or colour versus color, reflect different English varieties and historical influence. Anglicization also covers the rendering of non-Latin scripts into the Latin alphabet.

Broader sense: The term can describe people or cultures that have adopted English language and customs, a topic in sociolinguistics and post-colonial studies. Discussions about Anglicization often address issues of identity, cultural preservation, and the balance between international communication and local tradition.

See also Anglicization, Anglicize, transliteration, toponymy.