Diminutive
A Diminutive is a prefix or suffix (usually a suffix) added to a word in order to convey the sense of a smaller size.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Non-English Languages |
Australian English is famous for its use of Diminutives, most commonly used with the "-za" suffix. Thus "Barry" becomes "Bazza", "Gary" becomes "Gazza" and "Harry" becomes "Hazza". A diminutive for "Larry" (which would be "Lazza" under this system) is very rare, while there has also been a trend towards changing "Jarrod" or "Jared" to "Jazza". Female names are also shortened, such as "Sharon" becoming "Shazza".
Other suffixes are also used, such as "-ey/-ie/-y" and "-o", thereby creating names such as Petey (formerly Peter), Dougie (Douglas) Jono (Jonathan), and Robbo (Robert). Diminutives can, ironically, lengthen some names as well. "Johnny" is a common diminutive from "John".
The use of diminutives is more common among males than among females and - particularly in the Australian sense - relates to the concept of "mateship". The theory is that by shortening the name of a friend, the friendship is somehow deepened.
Non-English languages also use Diminutives, however these relate to nouns as well as proper nouns. German, for example, features words such as "HÃÂäuschen" (or "HÃÂäuserl" in Austrian Dialect) for "small house", "WÃÂürstchen" for "small sausage" and "HÃÂündchen" for "small dog".Australian Usage
Other suffixes
Diminutives and Mateship
Non-English Languages