Look up diminutive in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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.[1][2] A diminutive form (abbreviatedDIM) is a word-formation device used to express such meanings. In many languages, diminutives are word forms that are formed from the root word by affixation. In most languages, diminutives can also be formed as multi-word constructions such as "Tiny Tim", or "Little Dorrit". Diminutives are often employed as nicknames and pet names when speaking to small children and when expressing extreme tenderness and intimacy to an adult. The opposite of the diminutive form is the augmentative.
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. A double diminutive (example in Polish: dzwon → dzwonek → dzwoneczek; example in Italian: casa → casetta → casettina) is a diminutive form with two diminutive suffixes rather than one. While many languages apply a grammatical diminutive to nouns, a few – including Slovak, Dutch, Spanish, Latin, Polish, Bulgarian, Czech, Russian and Estonian – also use it for adjectives (in Polish: słodki → słodziutki → słodziuteńki) and even other parts of speech (Ukrainian спати → спатки → спатоньки — to sleep or Slovak spať → spinkať → spinuškať — to sleep, bežať → bežkať — to run). In English, the alteration of meaning is often conveyed through clipping, making the words shorter and more colloquial. Diminutives formed by adding affixes in other languages are often longer and (as colloquial) not necessarily understood.
Diminutives in isolating languages may grammaticalize strategies other than suffixes or prefixes. In Mandarin Chinese, for example, other than the nominal prefix 小 xiǎo and nominal suffixes 儿/兒 -r and 子 -zi, reduplication is a 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.
In some contexts, diminutives are also employed in a pejorative sense to denote that someone or something is weak or childish. For example, one of the last Western Roman emperors was Romulus Augustus, but his name was diminuted to "Romulus Augustulus" to express his powerlessness.
Examples
Charlie from Charles
Chuck from Charles
darling from dear
duckling from duck
cygnet from Old French cigne; French cygne (both: swan)
^"Diminutives and reduplicatives in Chinese". Language Log. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
April 10, 2023
diminutive, look, diminutive, wiktionary, free, dictionary, diminutive, word, obtained, modifying, root, word, convey, slighter, degree, root, meaning, either, convey, smallness, object, quality, named, convey, sense, intimacy, endearment, diminutive, form, ab. Look up diminutive in Wiktionary the free dictionary 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 1 2 A diminutive form abbreviated DIM is a word formation device used to express such meanings In many languages diminutives are word forms that are formed from the root word by affixation In most languages diminutives can also be formed as multi word constructions such as Tiny Tim or Little Dorrit Diminutives are often employed as nicknames and pet names when speaking to small children and when expressing extreme tenderness and intimacy to an adult The opposite of the diminutive form is the augmentative 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 A double diminutive example in Polish dzwon dzwonek dzwoneczek example in Italian casa casetta casettina is a diminutive form with two diminutive suffixes rather than one While many languages apply a grammatical diminutive to nouns a few including Slovak Dutch Spanish Latin Polish Bulgarian Czech Russian and Estonian also use it for adjectives in Polish slodki slodziutki slodziutenki and even other parts of speech Ukrainian spati spatki spatonki to sleep or Slovak spat spinkat spinuskat to sleep bezat bezkat to run In English the alteration of meaning is often conveyed through clipping making the words shorter and more colloquial Diminutives formed by adding affixes in other languages are often longer and as colloquial not necessarily understood Diminutives in isolating languages may grammaticalize strategies other than suffixes or prefixes In Mandarin Chinese for example other than the nominal prefix 小 xiǎo and nominal suffixes 儿 兒 r and 子 zi reduplication is a 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 In some contexts diminutives are also employed in a pejorative sense to denote that someone or something is weak or childish For example one of the last Western Roman emperors was Romulus Augustus but his name was diminuted to Romulus Augustulus to express his powerlessness Examples EditCharlie 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 dogSee also EditAffect linguistics Augmentative Comparison grammar Diminutives in Australian English Hypocorism diminutives of given names List of diminutives by language ie endingReferences Edit 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Diminutive amp oldid 1142108925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
