Loanword Usage in Indonesian Culinary Naming: A Morphological and Anthropolinguistic Perspective

The phenomenon of loanwords in menu naming demonstrates an interaction between local and foreign languages, along with the accompanying social and cultural values. This study aims to analyze the morphological forms of loanwords used in Indonesian food menu naming and examine their anthropolinguistic implications. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method with a linguistic (morphological) and language anthropology (anthropolinguistic) approach. The data were collected from menu documentation of restaurants, street food stalls, and cafés in Medan. The analysis was conducted through the identification of morphological processes (phonological adaptation, affixation, compounding, and clipping) and anthropolinguistic interpretation (identity, cultural hybridization, branding strategies, and social relations). The results reveal that loanwords in food menu naming are not merely linguistic adaptations but also carry socio-cultural meanings that reinforce global-local identity as well as creative economic practices.