GENDER-SPECIFIC USAGE OF DIMINUTIVES IN ENGLISH DISCOURSE
Keywords:
diminutives, gender, English discourse, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, discourse analysisAbstract
This article examines gender-specific tendencies in the use of diminutives in English discourse, focusing on linguistic structure, sociolinguistic patterns, and pragmatic implications. Drawing on examples from English fairy tales and contemporary fiction, this study analyzes how diminutives reflect social attitudes toward femininity, intimacy, and power. Findings show that diminutives are more frequently applied to female referents and that women tend to use them more often in interpersonal communication, while men employ them differently, often in informal interaction.
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