Language Borrowing in Oman: Evidence of Balushi Influence in Spoken Omani Dialect

This study explores the borrowing of Balushi words into the Omani dialect, focusing on three commonly used terms: /sˤar.da/ (severe cold), /ˈpæn.ke/ (fan or propeller) and /ˈkun.bil/ (thick blanket). Through a survey of 50 participants from eight Omani governorates, the research examines the usage, pronunciation and recognition of these words among native speakers. The study suggests that while these terms may share origins with Farsi and Hindi, their phonetic features and local pronunciations point to more direct borrowing from Balushi. The research highlights the impact of multilingualism in Oman and the subtle ways in which borrowed words become embedded in local identity. Despite the limited sample size, this paper encourages further investigation into linguistic borrowing and regional variation in Oman.