Diminutive constructions in English provides an analysis of form and meaning of English diminutives with selected suffixes and suffix combinations: -let, -ling, -ette, -er+ -s, -kin + -s, and -ie+ -kin +-s. The empirical study is done within the framework of Construction Grammar, Construction Morphology as depicted by Geert Booij (2010; 2013), and a Construction-Grammar-based approach to translation proposed by Izabela Szymańska (2011). On the basis of an exhaustive corpus of language material, the author proposes new schemas for English diminutives and related formations. Moreover, the work provides supporting evidence for the distinction of analytic A + N constructions as a valid type of diminutive formation in the English language.
Author(s): Dorota Gorzycka
Series: Studies in Philosophy of Language and Linguistics 15
Publisher: Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 300
Diminutive Constructions in English
Contents
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 Diminutives – theoretical background
1.1 Overview of definitions
1.2 Word class of input and output in diminutive formation
1.3 Diminutive formation
1.3.1 Derivational prefixation
1.3.2 Inflexional affixation
1.3.3 Reduplication
1.3.4 Compounding
1.3.5 Clipping
1.3.6 Suffixation
1.3.7 Analytic diminutive formation
1.4 Meaning carried by diminutives
1.5 Conclusion – characteristic features of diminutives
2 Research on diminutives
2.1 Traditional approaches to diminutives
2.2 Multifunctionality of affixes. The puzzling notion of quasi-diminutives
2.3 Acquisition of diminutives
2.4 Cognitive approaches to diminutives
2.4.1 Carlos Inchaurralde’s explanation of diminutive meaning through personal space schemata
2.4.2 Ruiz de Mendoza’s explanation of diminutive meaning through the ICM of size
2.4.3 The diminutive as a polysemous ‘macro’-category
2.4.4 Universal radial category for the diminutive
2.4.5 Comments on the cognitive approaches to diminutives
2.5 Pragmatic approaches to diminutives
2.5.1 Diminutives in emotive semantics
2.5.2 Diminutives across cultures
2.5.3 Morphopragmatics of diminutives
2.5.4 Diminutives in discourse
2.6 Diminutives in translation
2.7 Conclusion
3 General premises and current theories of Construction Grammar
3.1 Basic tenets of Construction Grammar
3.2 Constructions in the view of Construction Grammar
3.3 Construction Morphology
3.4 Conclusion
4 English diminutives in the perspective of constructional approaches to language
4.1 Inheritance hierarchy for coinages with diminutive suffixes
4.2 The {LET} suffix
4.2.1 Background information on the {LET} suffix
4.2.2 CM analysis of the formations with the suffix {LET}
4.3 The {LING} suffix
4.3.1 Background information on the {LING} suffix
4.3.2 CM analysis of formations with the suffix {LING}
4.4 The {ETTE} suffix
4.4.1 Background information on the {ETTE} suffix
4.4.2 CM analysis of formations with the suffix {ETTE}
4.5 Diminutive formation involving multiple suffixes
4.5.1 Background information on the {ER} + {S} suffix combination
4.5.2 CM analysis of formations with {ER} + {S}
4.5.3 Background information on the {KIN} + {S} and {IE} + {KIN} + {S} suffix combinations
4.5.4 CM analysis of formations with {KIN} + {S} and {IE} + {KIN} + {S}
4.6 Conclusions following the CM analysis of synthetic diminutive formation
4.7 Analytic diminutives in the perspective of CxG
4.7.1 Constructional approach to translation
4.7.2 Constructional outlook on the definitions of diminutives
4.7.3 Analytic diminutives in English in the perspective of the constructional view of translation
Summary
Appendix
List of figures
List of tables
References
Internet Sources
Back Matter
