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Rówok: Difference between revisions
→Diminutives
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====Diminutives==== | ====Diminutives==== | ||
The '''diminutive''' is a root-level mutation, not a suffix, and as a result the diminutive can be found in all parts of speech. In fact Rówok scholars believe that the diminutive was first used in verbs, as opposed to nominals. Evidence for this is based on some archaic phrases, in which diminutivized verbs are much more common than nouns. | |||
Diminutives are formed morphologically by '''changing the root’s rightmost possible consonant into its corresponding fricative or affricate''' according to the chart below. '''X''' indicates that the phoneme does not have a possible fricativized variant, e.g. '''p'''=>'''X''', since '''/f/''' is lacking in Rówok. In this event the '''next rightmost consonant is fricativized'''. | |||
Additionally more than one consonant can be fricativized, for a sort of '''double diminutive''' effect, which indicates either extreme smallness or lends a cutesy feel. Cf. root '''bls-''', '''bálas''' (snow) => '''bálaš''' (snowflake) => '''barašín'''+ (a cute, tiny snowflake), '''varašín''' (the finest snowflakes you ever saw; powder); or root '''mwk-''', '''mówok''' (dog) => '''mówoč''' (small dog, or young adult dog) => '''móvoč''' (cute little puppy dog). | |||
:+'''''barašín''''' might be avoided unless the context is perfectly clear, as it could cause confusion looking like the diminutive of '''''brs-''''', "foot, kick". | |||
:++'''''móvoč''''' is also used as an insult, saying that they act like a coward, weakling, inexperienced whelp. | |||
As a last note it is important to realize that some diminutivized roots have been lexicalized, and have their own definition separate (at least synchrinically/at first glance) from the meaning of the root whence they were derived. | |||
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As roots themselves do not feature phonemic fricatives or affricates, the base letters/sounds in the chart below are missing some of the normal [[#Consonants|consonant inventory]], including the entire row for trills and affricates, as the only trill in is found as a gradient of '''/r/''' => '''/r̝/''', and the only affricate as a gradient of '''/k/''' => '''/tʃ/''', as well as the entire column of interdentals. | |||
Note also that '''/l/''' grades to '''/r/''', though this sensu stricto is not an (af)fricativizing process. | |||
=====Diminutive nouns===== | =====Diminutive nouns===== | ||