HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH DIMINUTIVES AND THEIR GENDER FEATURES
Keywords:
Diminutives,Morphology, Historical linguistics, Gender roles, Sociolinguistics, Old English, Middle English, Affectionate language, Gendered language, Language evolutionAbstract
Diminutives are linguistic constructions that convey meanings of smallness, affection, or insignificance, and their usage has evolved alongside societal and cultural shifts. This article examines the historical development of English diminutives, from
Old English to the present, with a focus on their gender associations and underscores the dynamic interplay between language and societal constructs, offering insights into how diminutives have historically shaped and reflected cultural understandings of
gender.
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