Pejorative vs. Diminutive

[Bernie Francis]

Hola Arok,

I don't know if the following would be of any help to you:

In Micmac the word "kisiku" meaning old person is used mainly for an old man (old biologically) and sometimes for an old woman (old chronologically). In other words, you don't always need to use the female suffix "i'skw" unless of course you are biologically speaking in which case you would.

Yet I've heard the term "kisiku'sm" or old dog used for an old man (never for an old woman). It is when someone feels a need to insult an old person by referring to them as an "old dog".

Is this of any help?

berni francis

Sent from my iPad

On 2013-05-07, at 3:55 PM, "Arok Wolvengrey" <awolvengrey at FIRSTNATIONSUNIVERSITY.CA> wrote:

> Greetings.  I'm working on a paper concerning diminutives and pejoratives - and in particular comparing Plains Cree (which lacks a distinct pejorative) and Saulteaux (which has one).  This has me wondering about the distribution of these forms across the Algonquian family.  I'm hoping some of you can comment on the distribution of diminutives versus pejoratives in as many Algonquian languages as possible.  In particular, how widespread are diminutive and pejorative forms?  Is the pejorative restricted just to Ojibwe or do other language have distinct pejoratives?  Thank you for any information you can share.