LL-L "Morphology" 2003.01.10 (01) [E]

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From: Holger Weigelt <platt at holger-weigelt.de>
Subject: "Morphology"

> From: luc.hellinckx at pandora.be <luc.hellinckx at pandora.be>
> Subject: Morphology
>
> Beste liëglanners,
>
> Just a word or two about diminutives. We're actually using them all the
time
> in Brabantish. Also adverbial ones like :
>
> 1) efkes ~ eventjes : Wacht efkes ! (Wait a little)
> 2) rezzekes ~ res (meaning "slightly") : 't Was ter rezzekes tegen ! (said
> when you hit something very lightly)
> 3) treigskes ~ traag (slow)
> 4) loechtekes ~ licht (light)
> 5) stillekens ~ stil : Ge moogt da stillekens beginne vergete ze. (said
when
> it's time that somebody should start to forget something)
> ...
> Right now I start to think that these adverbial forms only exist with
words
> that already denote something small, something "in minor" *s*. It's
> impossible for example to say "zwaarekes" or something similar.
> So the only function that the diminutive has, is to stress the already
> inherent meaning. Just like a double negative is only used to exagerrate
the
> previous negative.
> Ron asked whether diminutives can also be used in verbs. The closest that
we
> get to this is the frequent use of frequentative (pun intended *s*) verbs.
> Examples :
> 1) scheddeln ~ scherden, schrijden (~Schritt in German) : to walk quickly,
> using however small strides
> 2) verwezzeln ~ wars doen liggen, verwarren : zen aar was grat verwezzeld
> (maybe this is even a double frequentative within one verb...wer, war >
> wersen > werselen)
> 3) vergezzeln ~ griezelen, gersen, gresen : to shiver
> 4) joengern ~ jongen : to give birth...joengern is the normal (and only)
> word (for animals). Independent on the number of "cubs"
> 5) teffern, kleffern, schoechern, koefeln, daggern, kjoemmern...
> ...
> Frequentative verbs are so common that the original idea (iteration) is
> somewhat worn-out.
> The frequent use of diminutives is not the only reason by the way that
> Brabantish often reminds me more of some southern Germanic
> languages...rather than northern ones (in contrast with Flemish). Put
> simply, I have the impression the vocabulary has southern characteristics
> (especially when I compare mittelniederdeutsche with mittelhochdeutsche
> dictionaries) but the phonology definitely has northern features.
> Greetings,
>
> Luc Hellinckx
>
Hello Luc !
In a former message I already told that we use words like _sachtjes_ (from
_sâcht_ = tender, soft, gentle; slow; ) or _söytjes_ (from: _söyt_ = sweet)
in Eastern Friesland as well. We also have words like _lütjet_ = small,
little or _bītje(t)_ = some, a little bit that are diminutives but have no
counterparts.
Now, In Your posting I found other examples which can be found in EF too:
_ēfkes_ = a moment, just; _stilkens_ = secretly. Possibly I'll find more if
I think about the matter for a longer time. But there is another fact You
wrote about that I must fully agree to: In EFLS it is also true that just
those adverbs become diminutives that already denote something small, soft,
weak or in a general way good.
Most diminutives in EFLS are of course substantives. Within these we find
several ones that have got 1) a very special meaning as diminutives or 2)
really changed their meaning. For example: 1) _gaud_ = goods, things /
_gaudje_ = unnecessary things, rubbish; rabble 2) _tūt_ = mouth / _tūtje_
(or: _dūtje_) = kiss; t/dūtjen = to kiss.
It is also possible to form new substantives from diminutive-forms of
adjectives, adverbs or verbs which are only established for this reason and
not in use else.
Kind greetings
Holger

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