Definitions

1. noun

a loanword that has undergone a process of adaptation to fit into a new language or culture, often changing its pronunciation or meaning.

“The linguist studied the loanshifts in the local dialect, noting how they reflected the area’s cultural exchange with neighboring communities.”

2. verb

to alter the pronunciation or meaning of a loanword to better suit the phonology or vocabulary of a new language or culture.

“The language teacher instructed her students on how to loanshift words from their native language to make them more accessible in the new language they were learning.”