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'{{Short description|Word modified to convey a slighter degree}} {{Wiktionary|diminutive}} 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 [[Intimate relationship|intimacy]] or [[Term of endearment|endearment]], and sometimes to derogatorily belittle something or someone.<ref name=UKgov/><ref>Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 6th edition</ref> A {{nowrap|'''diminutive form'''}} ([[list of glossing abbreviations|abbreviated]] {{smallcaps all|'''dim'''}}) is a word-formation device used to express such meanings. A {{nowrap|'''double diminutive'''}} is a diminutive form with two diminutive suffixes rather than one. == Purpose == Diminutives are often employed as [[nicknames]] and [[pet name]]s 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 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 diminutivized to "Romulus Augustulus" to express his powerlessness. == Formation == In many languages, diminutives are [[word form]]s 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 (disambiguation)|Tiny Tim]]", or "Little Dorrit". In most languages that form diminutives by affixation, this is a [[productivity (linguistics)|productive]] part of the language.<ref name="UKgov">{{cite web |website=The Standards Site |title=Glossary - D to F |date=2008 |publisher=Department for Children, Schools and Families, [[The Crown]] |url=http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/secondary/keystage3/respub/mflframework/appendices/glossary_of_terms/d_to_f/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227150101/http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/secondary/keystage3/respub/mflframework/appendices/glossary_of_terms/d_to_f/ |archive-date=2008-12-27 }}</ref> For example, in Spanish {{lang|es|gordo}} can be a nickname for someone who is overweight, and by adding an {{lang|es|-ito}} suffix, it becomes {{lang|es|gordito}} which is more affectionate. Examples for a double diminutive having two diminutive suffixes are in Polish {{lang|pl|dzwon}} → {{lang|pl|dzwonek}} → {{lang|pl|dzwoneczek}} or Italian {{lang|it|casa}} → {{lang|it|casetta}} → {{lang|it|casettina}}). In English, the alteration of meaning is often conveyed through [[clipping (morphology)|clipping]], making the words shorter and more [[colloquial]]. Diminutives formed by adding [[affix]]es in other languages are often longer and (as colloquial) not necessarily understood. While many languages apply a grammatical diminutive to [[noun]]s, a few – including Slovak, [[list of diminutives by language#Dutch|Dutch]], [[list of diminutives by language#Spanish|Spanish]], [[list of diminutives by language#Romanian|Romanian]], [[list of diminutives by language#Latin|Latin]], [[list of diminutives by language#Polish|Polish]], [[list of diminutives by language#Bulgarian|Bulgarian]], [[list of diminutives by language#Czech|Czech]], [[list of diminutives by language#Russian|Russian]] and [[list of diminutives by language#Estonian|Estonian]] – also use it for [[adjective]]s (in Polish: {{lang|pl|słodki}} → {{lang|pl|słodziutki}} → {{lang|pl|słodziuteńki}}) and even other [[lexical category|parts of speech]] (Ukrainian {{lang|uk|спати}} → {{lang|uk|спатки}} → {{lang|uk|спатоньки}} — to sleep or Slovak {{lang|sk|spať}} → {{lang|sk|spinkať}} → {{lang|sk|spinuškať}} — to sleep, {{lang|sk|bežať}} → {{lang|sk|bežkať}} — to run). Diminutives in [[isolating language]]s may [[grammaticalization|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 (linguistics)|productive]] strategy, e.g., {{lang|zh|舅}} → {{lang|zh|舅舅}} and {{lang|zh|看}} → {{lang|zh|看看}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=23204 |title=Diminutives and reduplicatives in Chinese |website=Language Log |access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref> In formal [[Mandarin Chinese|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 *''Dick'' from Richard * ''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]] *[[wikt:-ie#English|-ie ending]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Personal names}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Linguistic morphology]] [[Category:Suffixes|*]]'