More about the function of the suffix -k- in loanword adaptation in Polish Cover Image

Jeszcze o roli przyrostka -k- w adaptacji zapożyczeń w polszczyźnie
More about the function of the suffix -k- in loanword adaptation in Polish

Author(s): Mirosław Bańko
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics
Published by: Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego
Keywords: loanwords; lexical borrowings; loanword adaptation; morphological adaptation; quasi-diminutives

Summary/Abstract: This article raises the question of the function of the suffix -k- in the adaptation of foreign nouns in Polish. The prevailing view in the literature is that -k- plays a purely structural role. However, the analysis of relatively extensive material chosen from four dictionaries of loanwords shows that in most cases the suffix has also a quasi-diminutive function because it creates names of small-sized objects or names of objects that are large but small within a given category. The article draws attention to the difficulties in distinguishing quasi-diminutives adapted with the particle -k- from real diminutives, created with the equiform suffix in Polish, and also to the fact that in both kinds of words the suffix -k- often duplicates the function of a diminutive suffix present in the source word.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 32-43
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish
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