What term denotes the adaptation of foreign elements in language?

• A. Asimilasyon
• B. Pag-aangkop
• C. Pagpapalit
• D. Ponema

Answer: (A)

Asimilasyon is the process by which foreign elements are integrated into a language, fitting them into its sound system, spelling, and grammar. When words or sounds come from another language, speakers adapt them so they can be pronounced and used like native elements. This explains why loanwords often change a bit in pronunciation or spelling as they settle into everyday Filipino usage—phonemes may be adjusted, syllable patterns simplified, or endings aligned with Filipino morphology. The key idea is that the foreign item becomes part of the language’s existing system through modification and incorporation, not just a generic act of adaptation or a simple substitution of one sound for another.