Diminutive
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A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a
root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to derogatorily belittle something or someone.[1][2] A diminutive form (abbreviated
DIM) is a word-formation device used to express such meanings. A double diminutive is a diminutive form with two diminutive suffixes rather than one.
Purpose
Diminutives are often employed as
intimacy to an adult. The opposite of the diminutive form is the augmentative
.
In some contexts, diminutives are also employed in a
Romulus Augustus
, but his name was diminutivized to "Romulus Augustulus" to express his powerlessness.
Formation
In many languages, diminutives are
affixation. In most languages, diminutives can also be formed as multi-word constructions such as "Tiny Tim
", or "Little Dorrit".
In most languages that form diminutives by affixation, this is a productive part of the language.[1] For example, in Spanish gordo can be a nickname for someone who is overweight, and by adding an -ito suffix, it becomes gordito which is more affectionate. Examples for a double diminutive having two diminutive suffixes are in Polish dzwon → dzwonek → dzwoneczek or Italian casa → casetta → casettina).
In English, the alteration of meaning is often conveyed through
colloquial. Diminutives formed by adding affixes
in other languages are often longer and (as colloquial) not necessarily understood.
While many languages apply a grammatical diminutive to
parts of speech
(Ukrainian спати → спатки → спатоньки — to sleep or Slovak spať → spinkať → spinuškať — to sleep, bežať → bežkať — to run).
Diminutives in
productive strategy, e.g., 舅 → 舅舅 and 看 → 看看.[3] In formal Mandarin usage, the use of diminutives is relatively infrequent, as they tend to be considered to be rather colloquial than formal. Some Wu Chinese
dialects use a tonal affix for nominal diminutives; that is, diminutives are formed by changing the tone of the word.
Examples
- Charlie from Charles
- Chuck from Charles
- darling from dear
- duckling from duck
- cygnet from Old French cigne; French cygne (both: swan)
- ringlet from ring
- doggie from dog
See also
- Affect (linguistics)
- Augmentative
- Comparison (grammar)
- Diminutives in Australian English
- Hypocorism (diminutives of given names)
- List of diminutives by language
- -ie ending
References
- ^ a b "Glossary - D to F". The Standards Site. Department for Children, Schools and Families, The Crown. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-27.
- ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 6th edition
- ^ "Diminutives and reduplicatives in Chinese". Language Log. Retrieved 2018-02-22.