Appendix:World/Evaluative morphology in Laefevian: Difference between revisions

There is also an extra intensifying suffix which can be added to any of the previous suffixes: '''-akka'''

The most widespread diminutive suffix is '''''-enj''''', '''''-inje''''' or '''''-iênnje''''', which traces its roots back to {{m+|lnk-pro|-jVŋjæs|pos=also a diminutive suffix}}. The suffix does not, generally, convey any additional emotional connotations but it simply indicates a small size. If possible, the suffix also causes palatalisation of the preceding consonant.

* '''ansoinje''' “small island, isle” → '''ansoinjakka''' “very small island, islet”

The opposite of the diminutive is the augmentative, which indicates a great size. The suffix is '''''-uoha''''' (variants '''''-voha''''' or '''''-oha'''''), which can be traced back to {{m+|lnk-pro|-kʰos|pos=used to forms words indicating burden or authority}}. Like with the diminutive, there is generally no emotional connotations attached to this suffix.

Of course, with the right intonation, these intensified augmentatives can carry a negative connotation.

This suffix is used to add some positive connotations to the base word, such as love, affection or courtesy. The suffix is '''''-kin''''' or '''''-okin'''''. It is an extremely commonly used suffix to derive terms of endearment. It is very common in colloquial language. The origin of the suffix is somewhat unclear but it is generally believed to be a compound suffix of {{m+|lnk-pro|-VkVs|pos=indicates parts at the top or edge of something}}  and {{m+|lnk-pro|-VnVs|pos=a noun-deriving suffix}}. The suffix may carry diminutive connotations, especially when used with terms of endearment referring to children.

These are also equivalent to English expressions such as “love, my darling” or “honey, my darling” or “[NAME], my darling/dear” and so on.

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}}.  

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 '''''venkŵêngu''''' would be used on TV when talking about the currently most important piece of news.

The opposite of the endearing derivatives are, of course, pejorative and derogatory derivatives. There are now several different suffixes, which differ slightly from each other in meaning and formation.  

This is the typical and most widely used pejorative suffix in Laefevian, its main form is '''''-ôkša''''', with two variants,''''' -iôkša''''' and '''''-vôkša'''''. It can be appended to pretty much any noun to convey some kind of lesser quality of the base word, often ugliness or inability, badness, evilness, or malice. The origins of the suffix are unclear but it is generally agreed that it is a compound suffix with the ''-ôk-'' part being cognate with the augmentative suffix.

* '''venkŵôkša''' “bad news” → '''venkŵôkšakka''' “absolutely terrible news”

This is generally considered a derogatory suffix and it is used to refer to people only. It is similar to the pejorative suffix but the suffix '''''-(h)utta''''' conveys more of a moral judgement on the part of the speaker, carrying connotations of immorality, insincerity, disingenuousness, reproach, disgrace, shame, scorn, etc. In some cases, the meaning can be very close to the meaning of the words formed with the pejorative suffix. The suffix originates from the ending {{m|lfv|-hut|-(h)ut}} used in terms referring to the step-family members (e.g. {{m|lfv|vanhut|t=stepfather}}, {{m|lfv|lehhut|t=stepmother}}, {{m|lfv|šøskut|t=stepbrother}}, etc.).

When added to personal names (both ''-(h)utta'' or ''-(h)uttakka'') is can also correspond to English structures like, “[NAME], you bastard/son of a bitch/etc.” or “[NAME], you bitch/cunt/etc.”, and so on.

The derogatory suffix '''''-omja''''' is also generally used to refer to people, but it can include pets and other animals one might feel strongly about. This suffix can be added to adjectives only, and it is used to create derogatory terms highlighting the characteristic of the base word. It is a compound suffix, originating from the deadjectival stative verb suffix {{m|lfv|-umad|pos=i.e. “to be [ADJECTIVE]”}} and the general agent suffix {{m|lfv|-ja|t=-er}}.  

* '''hnagomja''' “layabout, lazy bum, slacker” → '''hnagomjakka'''

Some of the main these quality-changing suffixes can be combined into news suffixes, which now convey both parts of the constituent elements. While the colloquial language allows for great variety of possible combinations, there are five combinations that are officially recognised. All the forms described below can also be extended by adding the intensifying suffix '''''-akka''''' but it is not used as frequently as it is with the base derivatives described above.  

This suffix is a combination of the diminutive suffix ''-enj'' (or ''-inje'') and the endearing suffix ''-kin'', resulting in '''''-enkin''''', '''''-inkin''''' or '''''-i”nkin''''', depending on the original diminutive suffix. A diminutive-endearing derivative conveys that the base word is both small in size and is also adorable, lovable, likeable, cute, pretty, etc. It is commonly used with terms denoting people, especially family members, and pets, but it is not restricted to these terms only and it can be freely used with any word.

* '''elme''' “village” → '''elminje''' “small village, little village” → '''elminkin''' “cute little village, quaint little village”

A combination of the augmentative suffix ''-uoha'' (or ''-voha'') and the endearing suffix ''-kin'', resulting in '''''-uhkin''''' or '''''-ohka'''''. Like the diminutive-endearing derivatives, an augmentative-endearing derivative conveys that the base word is both great in size and is also adorable, lovable, likeable, beautiful, etc. It is used equally frequently with both human and non-human terms.

* '''lêa''' “city” → '''lêavoha''' “large city, metropolis” → '''lêavohkin''' “big and nice city”

A combination of the diminutive suffix ''-enj'' (or ''-inje'') and the pejorative suffix ''-ôkša'', resulting in '''''-enjôkša''''', '''''-injôkša''''' or '''''-iênnjôkša''''', depending on the form of the original diminutive. The combination of these two suffixes conveys a sense of belittlement, mockery, disparagement, ridicule, scorn, unworthiness, etc. It is commonly used with terms denoting people, especially professions, but it can also be used with any other word.

* '''lêa''' “city” → '''lêainjôkša''' “small little crime-riddled town”

This suffix is a combination of the augmentative suffix ''-uoha'' (or ''-voha'') and the pejorative suffix ''-ôkša'', resulting in '''''-uǧôkša''''' or '''''-oǧôkša''''', depending on the stem of the base word. It is used to refer to entities of great size (or importance) but with a sense of mockery, ridicule, scorn, pretence, fakery, etc. added to it. It may also convey pity, however. It is more commonly used with non-human terms but can be freely used with human terms as well. With human terms, however, the notion of a large physical size may be secondary or not present at all.

* '''hant''' “man” → '''hantuoha''' “big man, large man, tall man” → '''hantuǧôkša''' “big and unkempt man, (tall) man that doesn't take care of himself”

As the name suggests, this suffix is a combination of the endearing suffix ''-kin'' (or ''-okin'') and the superlative suffix ''-iêngu'', resulting in '''''-kinjêngu''''' or '''''-okinjêngu''''', depending on the form of the original stem. These terms now convey the same as the base endearing words but with a sense of superiority, uniqueness or the greatest importance added to it. These are especially common with term referring to friends, romantic partners and pets, but can also be used with any other word.

* '''arjoskinjêngu''' → '''orjoskinjêngu''' “my most important dear friend”

* '''jurwokinjêngu''' → '''jajjurwokinjêngu''' “the greatest love of his life, his greatest love”