[Lexicog] Pejorative suffixes

[Fritz Goerling]

Some pejorative suffixes carry over between
European languages (Germanic and/or Latin)
but are not as productive in the languages
under question. I have a few questions about
the following:

-isch in German:

männisch = mannish = hommasse (French)
weibisch = effeminate = efféminé (French)
kindisch = childish = enfantin (French)
herrisch = domineering = dominateur (French)

How productive is the pejorative suffix -ish
in English?

-aster in English

criticaster = inferior or petty critic
poetaster = petty poet; writer of contemptible verses
philosophaster etc.

This word formation seems quite procutive in English.
In German it exists (Kritikaster), but is not common.
By what suffix do other languages express the idea of
a petty pretender or second-rate performer?

-ling in German:

Schönling = good-looking but vain man
Schreiberling = penpusher
Lüstling = wanton man

How productive is pejorative -ling in English?

-ard in English

coward = Feigling (German) = couard (French)
dullard = Dummkopf (German)
drunkard = Saufbold (German) = saoûlard (French)
sluggard = Faulenzer (German)
braggart = Angeber (German) = vantard (French)

There seems to be some similarity between English
and French but not German.

-bold in German

Saufbold/Trunkenbold = drunkard
Raufbold = ruffian
Lügenbold = incorrigible liar

Does the suffix -bold in this sense exist in another related language?

Latin languages have their particular pejorative suffixes
like in Spanish:

- aco: pájaro (bird) -->pajarraco = ugly bird
- uela: mujer (woman) --> mujerzuela = loose woman
- uza: gente (people) --> gentuza = riff-raff
- astro: padre (father) --> padrastro = cruel, uncaring father

I wonder how that compares to Portuguese or Italian.

Fritz Goerling




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