Anglicize is a verb that means to make something more British in character or pronunciation. The word is spelled with a "g" instead of a "c" because it is derived from the name "Angle" (no, not angels!) which referred to the Germanic peoples who migrated to the British Isles in the 5th century. The IPA phonetic transcription of Anglicize is /ˈæŋɡlɪsaɪz/. This indicates that the first syllable is pronounced "ang" as in "angle" and the second syllable is pronounced "gul" as in "gulp".
Anglicize, verb:
The term "anglicize" refers to the process of altering or adapting something to make it more English-like or conforming to English customs, culture, or language. It specifically pertains to the modification or adoption of foreign words, names, expressions, or practices to fit into the English language or English-speaking society.
When applied to language, anglicization involves modifying non-English words or phrases by changing their spelling, pronunciation, or grammatical structure to align them with English conventions. This often occurs as a result of the increasing influence or dominance of the English language in various parts of the world.
Anglicize can also refer to adopting English customs, values, or cultural practices in a particular society. This may involve incorporating English elements into local traditions, lifestyles, or institutions, often as a consequence of colonialism, globalization, or regional interactions.
The concept of anglicization has been particularly influential in historical contexts, where it has aimed to assimilate or integrate non-English-speaking individuals into English-speaking societies. This term can carry connotations of cultural hegemony, reflecting the power dynamics and efforts to establish dominance of the English language and culture.
In summary, anglicize is a term that encapsulates the process of adapting or modifying foreign elements to align with English customs, language, or culture. It involves adjusting linguistic, cultural, or societal characteristics to reflect or conform to English standards.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "anglicize" originated from the combination of the Latin word "Anglicus", meaning "English", and the suffix "-ize", which is derived from the Greek "-izein" and signifies "to become" or "to make". The term emerged during the 17th century when English influence began expanding to various regions, and it refers to the process of adopting or making something English in nature, particularly in terms of language, customs, or culture.