naturalisation
noun
Naturalisation — the British spelling of a borrowed word becoming native
Definition
Changing the pronunciation of a borrowed word to agree with the borrowers' phonology; "the naturalization in English of many Italian words"
In depth
Naturalisation is the British spelling variant of naturalization, naming the identical process of changing a borrowed word's pronunciation to match the borrowing language's own phonology, or, in its more common legal sense, the granting of citizenship. The meaning carries no difference from its American counterpart, only the orthographic convention shifts.
Origin
Like other '-ise/-ize' pairs, the spelling divergence reflects differing historical preferences between American and British orthographic convention, with British English generally favoring the French-influenced '-ise' ending across this broad family of related words.
Usage examples
"British linguistic scholarship has long used the spelling naturalisation in academic writing."
"The naturalisation of borrowed vocabulary follows broadly similar patterns across most European languages."
"Her naturalisation as a citizen took several years to complete under the relevant immigration regulations."
How to use it
Use naturalisation for British, Irish, Australian, or other Commonwealth audiences and publications; the word is otherwise interchangeable in every respect with the American spelling.
Related concepts
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