A STUDY OF MORPHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION IN HAUSA LANGUAGE WORDS

Abstract This study examines morphological adaptation in Hausa language words, with particular emphasis on emerging word formation processes among Hausa speakers in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The research investigates how Hausa has continued to evolve in response to social, cultural, and technological changes through innovative linguistic strategies such as hybridization, code-switching, and semantic extension. Data for the study were collected through participant observation, personal interviews, and focus group discussions, while relevant literature and published materials provided secondary data. The findings reveal that Hausa speakers, especially the youth, creatively adapt borrowed words from English by integrating them into the Hausa morphological system. This adaptation includes the attachment of Hausa plural suffixes to English loanwords and the addition of English derivational affixes to Hausa stems, resulting in hybrid lexical forms. The study also identifies semantic extension as a significant process through which existing Hausa words acquire new meanings to accommodate modern concepts related to technology, social media, and digital communication. The study concludes that morphological adaptation demonstrates the dynamic and flexible nature of the Hausa language. The processes of hybridization and semantic extension not only enrich the Hausa lexicon but also ensure the language's continued relevance in contemporary society. The research therefore highlights the creativity of Hausa speakers in preserving their linguistic identity while responding to the demands of globalization and technological advancement. Keywords: Hausa language, morphological adaptation, word formation, hybridization, semantic extension, code-switching.