Deminutyvy seka ir funkcionavimas tekste
The sequence and functions of diminutives in texts

Summary/Abstract: In the Lithuanian linguistic tradition, diminutives are described as an expressive device belonging to the domain of stylistics. Diminutives are often used in combination with their basic nouns. The two can be used in immediate juxtaposition or be separated from each other. The diminutive may either precede or follow the basic word, and sometimes the two patterns are combined. The examples (from the concordance compiled by the Centre of Computational Linguistics of Kaunas University and from literary and publicistic writing) reveal four functions of diminutives, two of them basic (specifying and evaluative), and two secondary (aesthetic and cohesion-enhancing). A diminutive can perform several functions at the same time. The above-mentioned functions can also receive various degrees of emphasis, depending on the position of the diminutive, the type of diminutive and its referential status. Sometimes these properties are additionally marked by other linguistics devices.

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