XIV Международный конкурс научно-исследовательских и творческих работ учащихся
Старт в науке
Уменьшительно-ласкательные слова в английском языке
Автор работы награжден дипломом победителя II степени
Полная версия работы доступна во вкладке "Файлы работы" в формате PDF
Introduction
In Russian, we often use diminutive words in our speech when we address our younger brother, beloved grandmother or pet. What diminutive words are there in the English language? We were very interested in this topic, and we decided to study it deeper in order to become more familiar with this linguistic phenomenon: how diminutive words are formed, into which groups they can be divided. This type of word formation is not represented in school textbooks of the English language, even in schools with in-depth study of the English language. This is the relevance and novelty of this topic.
The aim of our work is to investigate the ways of forming diminutive words in English. Based on the goal, we set the following tasks:
- to study the concept of "diminutiveness" by applying the method of searching for information on a given topic,
- to find out how diminutiveness is represented in English;
- to select diminutive words from the play by Bernard Shaw "Pygmalion" in the original and Russian translation, using the method of continuous sampling and compare their quantitative composition;
- to highlight specific morphological and other linguistic features of the selected words using the method of morphological analysis;
- to identify typological and semantic features using the typological method;
- to analyze the obtained results.
The object of the research is word formation in the English language, the subject of the research is the ways of forming diminutive words.
We have put forward a hypothesis that there are quite a few diminutive suffixes in the English language, therefore there are other forms of expression of the diminutive category.
The theoretical significance of this work is to summarize the material on this problem. We see the practical significance of our work in the fact that with the help of the materials of this work, students will be able to independently understand the author's intention when working with literary texts.
Chapter II. The concept of "diminutiveness"
I.1. History of the issue
To begin with, we got acquainted with some of the works of linguists in order to know the terms, concepts, definitions and navigate theoretical approaches to the topic and classifications. Working on the theoretical part of the work, we learned that Soviet and Russian scientists have been studying and analyzing this linguistic phenomenon for a long time. Galperin I.R., Cherkasskaya E.B. Ivanova I.P. paid enough attention to this problem.
Diminutiveness is a special linguistic meaning associated primarily with an indication of a decrease in the size of an object, and, as a rule, expressed morphologically, i.e. by adding a certain affix to the nominal stem. Diminutives are extremely important for the expression of feelings and emotions, because an affectionate or dismissive attitude towards the referent determines the system of values proposed by the interlocutor, with which one may not agree.
In English, the diminutive-affectionate suffixes characteristic of the Russian language are poorly represented, and therefore the category of diminutiveness should be represented by other forms of expression.
Diminutiveness is closely related to emotive concepts and is actively used both to express love and contempt for the object of the nomination, basing its positive or negative assessment on a subjective attitude based on the insignificance of the object of speech.
I.P. Ivanova in the textbook "The Structure of an English Noun " identifies such diminutive suffixes as -ette (leather-ette - leather / artificial leather; The suffix -ET in borrowed words from the French language has a meaning consisting of the following 2 semes: a) diminutive (diminutive), which is noted by a number of researchers, for example: tippet, tacket, chainet, brooket, hogget, porket, locket, smicket. b) the name of the fabrics (cloth), for example: camlet, burdet, persianet, setinet , toilinet. The suffix -let (circle / circlet - кружок, buglet – жук/ жучок, cloudlet - облачко, kinglet-царек), -ie (-ee, -y) (crapp-ie, girl-ie), -y (dark- y – темный/негритос), quick-y - быстрый / наспехсделанныйфтльм), dolly, baccy, hanky; cootie, cubby), -ie (giftie - подарочек), -ling (catling - котик / кошечка, oakling - "дубок", fosterling - питомец, groundling - буржуа, rockling, priestling - попик, squirreling - белочка), -ster and his variants (-aster, -ister) (criticaster - "критикуй", poetaster - стихоплет) [2, 69].
A slightly smaller number of suffixes is recorded in the "Lexicology of the English language" by I.R. Galperin and E.B. Cherkasskaya, noting that “unlike the Russian language, which has an extremely rich system of suffixes that give words an emotional meaning, the English language is relatively poor in this kind of suffixes, and the most common of them are -y, -let, -ling, -ette , moreover, the suffix -у, (-ie, -ey), attaching an emotional meaning to a word does not change its subject-logical meaning ” [1, 92].
Not all linguists attribute the adjective suffix -ish to diminutive suffixes (origin: SUFFIX -ISH of Germanic origin).
Examples of the use of each of the selected suffixes in the expression of the category of diminutiveness are limited to several tens of lexical units, so with the suffix -ster and its variants (-aster, -ister), only 29 producing stems have been registered [2, 78].
I.2. Diminutive category
At the morphological level, the category of diminutiveness in the English language, according to Russian scientists, is not sufficiently expressed. As diminutive suffixes in nouns, one can distinguish -let (book / booklet - книга / брошюра), -kin (lamb / lambkin овца / овечка), -et / ette (cigar / cigarette (сигара / сигарета) - this diminutive suffix has French origin). The diminutive suffix creates words indicating a small size and at the same time affectionate, playful or contemptuous: -kin (lambkin - барашек / овечка), -let (chicklet - цыпочка, starlet - звездочка), -ling (weakling - слабак, underling – мелкийчиновник), -y (daddy - папочка), -ie (lassie - девчушка / милочка, oldie - старушенция / старушка).
The category of diminutiveness is actively reflected in proper names, which, in closer relations between people, tend to be shortened and simplified, in some cases acquiring the suffixes -y / -ie, -ling. (eg Andrew / Andy, Bernard / Berny, Ernest / Ernie, Nick / Nicky, Gerald / Gerry, Agnes / Aggie, Constance / Conny, Katherine / Kathy, Jacqueline / Jacky, Margery / Margy, Winifred / Winnie. Truncation of proper names should also be interpreted as reflecting the category of diminutiveness: Benjamin / Ben; Albert, Gilbert, Herbert, Hubert / Bert; Desmond / Des; Geoffrey / Geoff; Geffrey / Geff; Joseph / Joe; Leonard / Len; Elizabeth / Lisa, Liza; Gillian / Gill ... The fact that truncated proper names should be regarded as an expression of the category of diminutiveness can be clearly supported by their use; after all, they are rarely found in an official setting, and their use, for example, as an address, indicates the speaker's desire or to express his sympathy, or to demonstrate disregard for the addressee (when choosing an interpretation, they pay attention to the context, intonation and extralinguistic factors), the desire to emotionally defuse the situation. which are difficult to associate with word formation in general: Richard / Dick; John / Jack; Barbara / Babs; Mary / Mamy, Molly.
The use of the category of diminutiveness should not be limited to nouns, since the seme of insignificance / insufficiency can be expressed in other parts of speech. So, adjectives form diminutives with the suffix -ish (-owat-) (eg blue / bluish-blue / bluish). Verbs have a diminutive prefix under- (eg value / undervalue -estimate / underestimate). However, this is a debatable question, since the category of diminutiveness is not limited to the meaning of insufficiency, but also has a pronounced connotation.
Another example of a fairly systematic shift in the meaning of a diminutive is represented by the names of animals, which denote not just an animal of small size, but cubs. This use of the diminutive is typical for both the names of animals and the names of trees, as well as plants and their parts (A little dog or doggy (a dog, a puppy, a puppy), and little / tiny orange (an orange) ...).
Thus, the idea of diminutiveness is often associated with the general idea of 'childhood' and 'youth'. This semantic component is associated with the origin of the diminutive suffix.
The semantics of the diminutive determines its extremely wide use in children's speech, as well as in speech addressed to children (cf. derivatives from proper nouns: Jimmy, Tommy, and also Mammy / мамочка, Daddy / папочка).
Words with evaluative suffixes can have a double meaning: they either clarify the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of an object or feature: a house is a small house, quietly - very quietly, or they have mainly an expressive, expressive purpose: a house is a pretty house, a white one is white (what something cute and small) [3].
Diminutive suffixes in modern English are used much less often than in Russian, and therefore examples of their use are a rare phenomenon in fiction.
I.3. Diminutive suffix values
The most common are the diminutive suffixes -y, -let, -ling, -ette. The suffix -у, (-ie, -ey), attaching an emotional meaning to a word does not change its subject-logical meaning. The words sonny (son, son, son), girlie (girl, girl), auntie (aunt) express the same concepts as words without the diminutive suffix -у (-ie). They express rather the speaker's attitude to the subject of thought than a new concept.
Diminutive suffixes, in addition to the meaning of small size, express both the meaning of special closeness, love for the designated concept, and the meaning of disdain.
All of these suffixes have other lexical meanings, in some of them, especially in French borrowings, the meaning of diminutiveness is present only formally, being not realized by native speakers. So the suffix -ette has a lot of other lexical meanings, which include the designation of a female figure - usher-ette (капельдинерша); designation of imitation object or material, leather-ette (кожа/ кожзаменитель) .
Diminutive suffixes are quite rare in English nouns. Not every noun can be attached to the most common of the English diminutive suffixes -let / -ette / -et- (leaf - leaflet: leaf – leaf [3].
Diminutives are extremely important for expressing sincerity, because an affectionate appeal to the interlocutor, an indication of the inadequacy of your knowledge, the need for the smallest amount when asked, and so on, cannot but help to achieve the desired result, and therefore the goal of the speech act will be achieved.
Conclusions to Chapter I
Having studied the literature on this topic, we learned that
- diminutiveness is expressed morphologically, it is formed by adding suffixes;
- they are important for expressing emotion;
- diminutiveness with the help of suffixes in English is poorly represented, therefore there are other ways of education;
- the most common suffixes -у, -let, -ling, -ette, and the suffix -у, (-ie, -ey), giving an emotional meaning to a word, does not change its object-logical meaning;
- however, the expression of the category of diminutiveness in proper names is by no means limited to the suffixal word formation. Truncation of proper names should also be interpreted as reflecting the category of diminutiveness;
- adjectives form diminutives with the suffix -ish;
- verbs have a diminutive prefix under-;
- an example of a fairly systematic shift in the meaning of a diminutive is represented by the names of animals, which denote not just an animal of small size, but cubs;
- diminutive suffixes, in addition to the meaning of small size, express both the meaning of special closeness, love for the designated concept, and the meaning of disdain;
- diminutive suffixes in modern English are used much less often than in Russian, and therefore examples of their use are a rare phenomenon in fiction.
In the second chapter, we plan to conduct a study of diminutive words using the example of the play by Bernard Shaw "Pygmalion". First, we will search for diminutive words in the original of the play "Pygmalion" and in the Russian translation by the method of continuous sampling in order to compare the use of diminutive words in fiction. At the second stage, we plan to highlight specific morphological and other linguistic features; then distribute the selected words according to the typological and semantic features of diminutive words; at the end, analyze the results.
Chapter II. Ways of expressing diminutiveness in “Pygmalion” by B. Shaw
II.1. List of diminutive words
The first stage of our research is the search out diminutive words in the play of the Irish writer Bernard Shaw "Pygmalion" by the method of continuous sampling. Objective: To compile a list of words to research. We found the following diminutive words: Freddy, Charlie, Liza, Eliza, Betsy, Bess, baby, daddy, a little sailor hat, a poor girl, tiny organ pipes, little things, the little swine, little tables, little nicknacks, a little cry, a little smile, a puppy, little fool, little drama, a small place, little services, devilish, foolish [6]. There are 24 words in total. This list consists of proper names and common nouns. These diminutive words are formed in different ways.(Appendix I)
We compared the Russian translation of this work with the original for the use of diminutive words. We have highlighted the following diminutive words: зонтик, фиалочки, миленький, мамаша, букетики, цветочек, книжка, матушка, корзинка, столик, шкафчик, карточки, воротничок, фигурка, нянька, Элиза, Бетси, Бесс, яичко, гнездышко, замухрышка, хорошенько, камешек, девчонка, шоколадка, крылышко, кастрюлька, косточка, сынишка, мальчишка, щенок, украшеньица, понемножку, разок, дочка, денежки, полочки, диванчик, хорошенькие, тетка, папаша, неделька, баночка, словечки, коврик, минутка, старикашка, слабенький, клубочек, ледышка, кошелек, кусочек, дурочка [7]. There are 54 words in total. There are more diminutive words in the Russian translation than in the original. This shows that diminutive words are rarely used in English fiction.
II.2. Morphological and linguistic features of diminutive words
The second stage of our research is to highlight the morphological and linguistic features of diminutive words selected from the play "Pygmalion" by B. Shaw. Objective of the study: to consider the selected words from the morphological side. The selected words by part of speech can be divided into 3 groups: proper nouns, common nouns and adjectives (Appendix II).
By the way of education, the following groups can be distinguished: using the suffixes -y, - ie (Freddy, Charlie, baby, puppy), truncating a proper name (Eliza, Liza, Betsy, Bess), using the suffix -ish (devilish), using the words little, tiny, small (a little sailor hat, tiny organ pipes, a small place) (Appendix III).
From this study, the following conclusion can be drawn: in the English language there is a small number of diminutive suffixes. To emphasize the size of the item, the words little, tiny, small are used. A large group of diminutive words is made up of both common nouns and proper nouns.
II.3. Typological and semantic features of diminutive words
The third stage of our research is to distribute the selected words by typological and semantic features of diminutive words, using the typological method. The purpose of this study is to consider the selected words from the semantic side, namely, what meaning they carry in themselves: affectionate treatment, disdain, small size, young animals, a weakly expressed sign. We wrote out sentences with these diminutive words and determined by context what semantics they have.
I called him Freddy or Charlie same as you might yourself if you was talking to a stranger and wished to be pleasant.(affectionate appeal)
In this corner stands a flat writing-table, on which are a phonograph, a laryngoscope, a row of tiny organ pipes with a bellows. (small size)
Eliza, Elizabeth, Betsy and Bess, They went to the woods to get a bird's nes': (affectionate appeal)
Have some chocolates, Eliza. (affectionate appeal)
It is these little things that matter, Pickering. (small size)
She wears a little sailor hat of black straw that has long been exposed to the dust and soot of London. (neglect)
... and her room, which is very unlike her son's room in Wimpole Street, is not crowded with furniture and little tables and nicknacks. (small size)
He is, in fact, but for his years and size, rather like a very impetuous baby “taking a notice” eagerly and loudly, and requiring almost as much watching to keep him out of unintended mischief. (neglect)
How can you be such a foolish ignorant girl as to think you could afford to pay Mr. Higgins? (Mild sign)
I'm devilish sleepy. (Mild sign)
Well, I'm very glad you're not going to do anything foolish, Mr. Doolittle. (weakly expressed sign)
Don't look at me like that, Eliza. (Affectionate appeal)
LIZA [forcing a little smile for him through her vexation] (small size)
But I haven't forgot what you said a minute ago; and I won't be coaxed round as if I was a baby or a puppy. (neglect)
Of course I do, you little fool. (neglect)
This is unbearable, not only because her little drama, if acted on such a thoughtless assumption, must be spoiled, but because the true sequel is patent to anyone with a sense of human nature in general, and of feminine instinct in particular. (small size)
He said he had been thinking of a shop himself; though it had presented itself to his pennilessness as a small place in which Eliza should sell tobacco at one counter whilst he sold newspapers at the opposite one. (small size)
The very scrupulousness with which he told her that day that he had become used to having her there, and dependent on her for all sorts of little services. (Small size)[7]
We have divided diminutive words by semantic basis into the following groups: affectionate appeal (Freddy, Charlie, Liza, Eliza, Betsy, Bess), dismissiveness (daddy, a little sailor hat, baby, a puppy, the little swine, a little fool), small size (tiny organ pipes, little things, little tables, little nicknacks, a little cry, a little smile, little drama, a small place, little services), mild sign (devilish, foolish).
As you can see, all our findings either confirm or supplement the previously worked out theoretical material.
Conclusions to Chapter II
After the research carried out on the basis of B. Shaw's play "Pygmalion", we came to the following conclusions:
- in English, diminutive words are rarely used, even examples in fiction are extremely small. Most often, proper names are used in diminutive form;
- in the English language there is a small number of diminutive suffixes, the most frequently used suffixes are –y, -ie. To emphasize the size of the object, the adjectives little, tiny, small are used in combination with the noun;
- according to the semantic feature, it can be divided into the following groups: affectionate appeal, neglect, small size, weakly expressed feature.
Conclusion
The purpose of our work is to investigate the ways of forming diminutive words in English. Based on the goal, we set the following tasks:
- to study the concept of "diminutiveness" by applying the method of searching for information on a given topic,
- to find out how diminutiveness is represented in English;
- to select diminutive words from the work of Bernard Shaw "Pygmalion" in the original and Russian translation, using the method of continuous sampling and compare their quantitative composition;
- to highlight specific morphological and other linguistic features of the selected words using the method of morphological analysis;
- to identify typological and semantic features, applying the typological method, and analyze the results.
Working on the theoretical part of the work, we learned that Soviet and Russian scientists have been studying and analyzing this linguistic phenomenon for a long time. Galperin I.R., Cherkasskaya E.B. Ivanova I.P. paid enough attention to this problem. Diminutiveness is a special linguistic meaning associated primarily with an indication of a decrease in the size of an object, and, as a rule, expressed morphologically, i.e. by adding a certain affix to the nominal stem. The most common suffixes are -y, (-ie, -ey), -let, -ling, -ette. Each suffix carries a certain semantics: affectionate treatment, neglect, small size, baby animal.
Working on the practical part based on B. Shaw's play "Pygmalion", we investigated diminutive words. The first study showed that diminutive words are not used as often in English as in Russian. The second study proved that diminutive words are formed not only with the help of a suffix, but also by truncating a proper name and using the adjectives little, tiny, small. Having distributed the selected words according to the typological and semantic features of diminutive words, using the typological method, we came to the conclusion that, depending on the context and semantics, they can have a positive or negative assessment, denote an object of small size and baby animals.
As you can see, all our findings either confirm or supplement the previously worked out theoretical material.
Literature
Гальперин И.Р., Черкасская Е.Б. Лексикология английского языка. Издательство: М.: «Изн-Яз», 1956.
Иванова И.П. Структура английского имени существительного. Издательство: М.: Высшая школа. 1975.
Категория диминутивности в русском и английском языках. Некрасова И.М. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/kategoriya-diminutivnosti-v-russkom-i-angliyskom-yazykah
Представленность разноуровневых диминутивов в русском и английском языке. С.В. Лескина, Ю.В.Сабко. https://dspace.susu.ru/xmlui/bitstream/handle/0001.74/6854/3.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Уменьшительно-ласкательные суффиксы (диминутивность) в
английском языке, Ахметова Г.М. https://nsportal.ru/shkola/inostrannye-yazyki/library/2015/06/16/umenshitelno-laskatelnye-suffiksy-diminutivnost-v
https://eng360.ru/pygmalion
https://mir-knig.com/read_273497-1
Thesaurus
Borrowing – he process by which a word from one language is adapted for use in another.
Concept – defined as ordinary ideas or general notions that occur in the mind, in speech, or in thought.
Diminutive – a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment.
Fiction – any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying people, events, or places in imaginary ways that are not strictly based on history or fact.
Linguistics –the scientific study of language
Morphology – the study of words, how they are formed, and their relationship to other words in the same language.
Semantics – the study of meaning, reference, the truth.
Semasiology –a discipline of linguistics concerned with the question "what does the word X mean?"
Shaw, Bernard –an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist.
Truncation – the act of making something shorter by removing the end of it.
Appendix I
List of diminutive words
|
Diminutives in the original |
Diminutives in the Russian translation |
|
Freddy, Charlie, Liza, Eliza, Betsy, Bess, baby, daddy, a little sailor hat, a poor girl, tiny organ pipes, little things, the little swine, little tables, a little cry, a little smile, a puppy, little fool, little drama, a small place, little services, devilish, foolish, selfish |
зонтик, фиалочки, миленький, мамаша, букетики, цветочек, книжка, матушка, корзинка, столик, шкафчик, карточки, воротничок, фигурка, нянька, Элиза, Бетси, Бесс, яичко, гнездышко, замухрышка, хорошенько, камешек, девчонка, шоколадка, крылышко, кастрюлька, косточка, сынишка, мальчишка, щенок, украшеньица, понемножку, разок, дочка, денежки, полочки, диванчик, хорошенькие, тетка, папаша, неделька, баночка, словечки, коврик, минутка, старикашка, слабенький, клубочек, ледышка, кошелек, кусочек, дурочка |
Appendix II
The percentage of common nouns, proper nouns and adjectives
Appendix III
Formation of diminutives
|
Suffix –y, -ie |
Truncating a proper name |
Suffix –sh |
With help little, tiny, small |
|
Freddy, Charlie, Betsy |
Eliza, Liza, Bess |
Devilish, selfish, foolish |
a little sailor hat, a poor girl, tiny organ pipes, little things, the little swine, little tables, a little cry, a little smile, little fool, little drama, a small place, little services |