The Classification and Semantic Functions of Diminutives in Northern Henan's Central Plains Mandarin
The forms of diminutives in Central Plains Mandarin of Northern Henan can be categorized into six distinct types:rhotici-zation;prefixing with"圪"(ge);prefixing with"□[·au]/小(xiao)";suffixing with"子"(zi);suffixing with"□[·nau]/妮Z[(n)iau24]/□[·(n)iou]/□[·(n)io]";combination,a form of diminutive intensification,which can further be divided into four subcategories,namely"圪(ge)+rhoticization","□[·au]/小(xiao)+rhoticization","□[·au]/小(xiao)+rhoticization"and"□[·au]/小(xiao)+□[·nau]/妮z[(n)iau24]/□[·(n)iou]/□[·(n)io]".In terms of their semantic function,the rhoticization form shows the strongest extension capabilities,having extended from the lexical level to the syntactic level,and its original di-minutive sense when used for nouns has begun to wear away.At present,the intensification form"□[·au]/小(xiao)+rhoti-cization"has become the most active and productive form of diminutive nouns in Central Plains Mandarin of Northern Henan.
万方数据
维普
