Diminutives with positive and negative connotations in Turkish

Abstract

In many grammatical works on the Turkish language, the affixes referred to as "diminutive suffixes" perform various functions beyond simply reducing the size of an object. The aim of this research article is to analyze the semantics of these forms, referred to as "diminutives" in functional grammar. Turkish linguists identify the affixes -CA, -Cık, -cAk, -cAğız, +(X)ç as diminutive suffixes. Kazakh scholars, having uncovered their meanings, have considered them more broadly, not limiting them to just the diminutive function, and have called them "affixes expressing nuances." The task of functional grammar is not only to describe the structure of grammatical constructions but also to reveal their semantics and other functions. As seen from linguistic examples and materials, diminutive suffixes in the Turkish language, in addition to expressing smallness, also perform various emotional-expressive functions, such as conveying affection, endearment, pity, mockery, and so on. Some suffixes have a positive meaning, others a negative one, and some can express both meanings. Therefore, in our article, we used the term "diminutive" rather than "diminutive suffixes" or "affixes expressing nuances." It is also known that in the Turkish language, the functions of diminutives are performed not only by diminutive suffixes but also by possessive and plural affixes. During the course of this work, we will demonstrate, based on linguistic data, that in addition to the diminutive suffixes mentioned above by Turkish scholars, there are other affixes that perform this function. In this article, we will also analyze the meanings of diminutive suffixes in the Turkish language, showing their variants in Old Turkic and other Turkic languages with examples.