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Appendix:World/Diminutives and Augmentatives in Laefevian: Difference between revisions
Appendix:World/Diminutives and Augmentatives in Laefevian (view source)
Revision as of 13:20, 5 August 2024
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== Superlative derivatives == | == Superlative derivatives == | ||
The superlative suffix '''''-(i) | The superlative suffix '''''-(i)êngu''''' is used to indicate the (absolute) veracity, verisimilitude, realness, the highest or best quality, or the highest or greatest importance of the base word. These words are often used in some kind of contrastive context where one entity, which is considered to be more real or of better quality, is compared to another entity, which is then considered to be of lesser quality or importance. Etymologically, the suffix is just a nominalised version of the adjectival absolute superlative suffix {{m|lfv|-êngwis}}. | ||
Examples: | |||
* '''nar''' “book” → '''nariêngu''' “real book, actual book” | * '''nar''' “book” → '''nariêngu''' “real book, actual book” | ||
* '''niv''' “dog” → '''niviêngu''' “real dog, actual dog” | * '''niv''' “dog” → '''niviêngu''' “real dog, actual dog” | ||
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* '''zov''' “meat” → '''zoviêngu''' “real meat, natural meat” | * '''zov''' “meat” → '''zoviêngu''' “real meat, natural meat” | ||
The intensifying suffix '''''-akka''''' can be used in combination with this suffix as well, resulting in '''''-(i) | The intensifying suffix '''''-akka''''' can be used in combination with this suffix as well, resulting in '''''-(i)êngakka''''', but the derived word typically gain humorous, cynical, sarcastic or even derogatory connotations: | ||
* '''niviêngu''' “real dog, actual dog” → '''niviêngakka''' | * '''niviêngu''' “real dog, actual dog” → '''niviêngakka''' | ||
* '''hvestiêngu''' “real boy” → '''hvestiêngakka''' | * '''hvestiêngu''' “real boy” → '''hvestiêngakka''' | ||
* '''hantiêngu''' “real man, true man, man of his word” → '''hantiêngakka''' | * '''hantiêngu''' “real man, true man, man of his word” → '''hantiêngakka''' | ||
* ''' | * '''hynjožiêngu''' “front row seat” → '''hynjožiêngakka''' | ||
The superlative suffix can also contrast with the prefix '''''erhw-''''' “main-, arch-, head-”, for example, '''''erhuvenkwe''''', lit. “main news, arch-news, top news”, would be used in a newspaper to refer to the most important news in the publication (it also cannot be changed any more), while '''''venkŵ”ngu''''' would be used on TV when talking about the currently most important piece of news. | The superlative suffix can also contrast with the prefix '''''erhw-''''' “main-, arch-, head-”, for example, '''''erhuvenkwe''''', lit. “main news, arch-news, top news”, would be used in a newspaper to refer to the most important news in the publication (it also cannot be changed any more), while '''''venkŵ”ngu''''' would be used on TV when talking about the currently most important piece of news. | ||
== Pejorative and derogatory derivatives == | == Pejorative and derogatory derivatives == | ||