Diminutive Marking of Pashto Noun: Its Inflectional, Lexical and Semantic Functions in Comparison with English

Author(s) : Usman Ali, Dr. Shaukat Ali & Dr. Sajid Iqbal

Abstract:

Diminutive is a morphological category common to majority of the languages- often taking the form of suffix. Some over 50 languages have been investigated for the uses and functions of diminutivity (Mintsys & Mintsys, 2015). Though scholars have identified markers attached with Pashto noun for inflections (Khan et al., 2016), the wide-ranging uses of diminutive marking of noun has not been investigated until very recently (Khan, 2023). Its morphological variations, lexical and semantic functions have not been sufficiently accounted for. A comprehensive morphological description of diminutive markers in Pashto, its utility and productivity needs thorough investigation. The present study aimed to provide an account of different morphological realizations of diminutive markers of Pashto nouns and to enlist its several lexical and semantic functions with English diminutive. Analysis was confined to noun only because noun is considered as the prototypical class for diminutive marking (Schneider, 2003). Unstructured interviews of 10 Pashto experts, purposively selected as key informants, were conducted to obtain primary data concerning diminutive in Pashto. For its comparison with English, the researchers utilized the existing body of research on English diminutive. The study found different morphological realizations of diminutive that are attached with nouns in Pashto. Diminutive plays the dual role of inflectional morpheme as gender marker and source of bringing change in meaning of noun in Pashto simultaneously in several instances. It also serves a lexical function as a source of word-formation- since many nouns marked for diminutivity acquire the status of independent lexemes. Semantically, diminutive adds the senses of smallness, pejoration, endearment and affection, as well as, disdain and contempt to the meaning of nouns. Lastly, diminutive is used for hypocorism in the case of proper nouns. Each of the pattern and function of Pashto diminutive has been exemplified and illustrated by comparing to its equivalent form and use in English language. The study is helpful in enriching the knowledge of researchers dealing with Pashto Morphology, Semantics, grammar and lexicography.
Keywords: Diminutive marking, Pashto and English nouns, Word-formation